:::■•..•-;■-■ V - :■ •vx..:::v:..;o;--:.;.::v:';:.;.:tiaJ5ffiliS 

ar Diary of an 
erican Woman 





Class 

Book 

Gopy]ightN°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




William the Second 



WAR DIARY OF AN 
AMERICAN WOMAN 

TO THE PROCLAMATION 
OF THE HOLY WAR 

1914 



BY 

JOUETT JEFFRIES 

Illustrated 



1915 

THE FATHERLAND CORPORATION 

NEW YORK CITY 



^'o^" 
^^•x 



Copyright, 1915, by 
JouETT Jeffries 



MAY --8 1915 

g)GI,A401l06 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
William the Second Frontispiece 

FACmG PAGE 

The Empress of Germany i6 

The Crown Prince of Germany 32 

Kaiser Francis Joseph 48 

Chancellor Bethmann von Hollweg 64 

Admiral von Tirpitz 80 

Von Moltke 96 

The Czar of Russia and the English King . . .112 



WAR DIARY 
OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Geneva, Switzerland, June 2Sth, 19 14. The 
dreaming, drifting summer days, by the blue 
waters of Lake Leman, are rudely shaken by the 
ominous report that comes thundering over the 
Alps of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, 
heir to the Throne of the Dual Monarchy, in the 
Bosnian City of Sarajevo. 

All the world stands aghast at the accomplished 
deed of a Servian serf, a deed that adds one more 
drama of sorrow to the grief-bowed Monarch of 
the Austrian realm and stabs the twain country a 
heart thrust, that is soon to sound the trumpet call 
of war over the length and breadth of Europe. 

Unto the royal dead, the Archduke Franz Fer- 
dinand and his Consort, the Duchess of Hohen- 
berg, all honor is given midst traces and trappings 
of wo and the entire world renders sympathy to 
the aged Emperor's court and country while far- 
seeing seers, gazing at War clouds, watch and 
wait the effect and verdict of a nation's grief and 
grievance. 

To those not in the scheme of things, only 
silence seems to follow, the dead-death silence, the 
re-action, the torpor, the dazedness of tragedy 
hangs heavy over the Empire of Emperor Joseph. 



6 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

What his Majesty's Ministers of State plan as 
their note to Servia, to the world at large, is only 
a matter of conjecture. 

July i^th. Seemingly all goes well, the tocsin 
of war fades far and faint. The summer days are 
on the land, woods call, mountains beckon, sea 
lures, the Prince and pauper, and all the work-a- 
day world, of every clime and nation. Monarchy 
and Republic, and from oversea, fare forth to the 
lure of a summer in Arcady! 

The German Emperor as is His Majesty's wont 
seeks rest and recreation in the Fjords of the 
Norsemen and the President of France makes his 
first official visit to the capital of all the Russias. 

July 24th. It is the 24th of July in Southern 
Tyrol where Austria and Italy join hands over the 
great, glorious Dolomitian range, the wonder- 
country of all Europe, where the snow-topped, 
vari-colored mountain peaks keep guard over smil- 
ing vineyards and sweet smelling fields. 

In the twinkling of an eye all is changed,' over 
the peace and plenty of the land, loom heavy 
clouds; heavens roar forth their thunder midst 
clash and cracks, as if all the Gods of Heaven 
called to all the Sons of men the War Cry. 

We get out of our country fastnesses, to the 
quaint, picturesque half Italian "Levico" and hear 
that for the murder of even an unliked, uncrowned 
head (for the policies of the Archduke were not 
popular with all peoples) the Austro-Hungarian 
Government, on the 24th of July, presented her 
note to Servia, in which it is explained and ex- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 7 

pressed that the direct connection between the 
murder at Sarajevo and the Pan-Servian move- 
ment, has not only been countenanced, but actively 
supported by the Servian Government. 

The demand, the request is for a complete cessa- 
tion of this agitation, punishment of the guilty 
and as necessary guarantee the presence and parti- 
cipation of the Austrian officials at the examination 
on Servian territory and the final dissolution of 
Pan-Servian Societies agitating against Austria- 
Hungary. 

The Imperial and Royal Government have given 
48 hours for the unconditional acceptance of its 
demands. 

What less, what more moderate demands could 
an outraged nation ask in atonement? 

Groups of Austrian, Italian peasants crowd the 
village, garrison soldiers hurry to and fro and idle 
folk, push into cafes, and crowd street corners 
with questioning eyes for news of the far away, 
for news that might menace the golden days of 
their golden harvest. 

We get hold of our "Cocchiere," and go on our 
way, under the stars, and listen to the silence of 
the great mountains and with all the world beauti- 
ful around and about feel the assurance of peace. 

The military band plays; soft breezes carry the 
scent of rose blossoms; the moon flashes silver on 
fantastic Dolomites and these diverse people who 
have found this beauty realm of the Southern 
Tyrol feel no fear for the morrow. 



8 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

July 2^th. Our pleasures do not hold us. We 
can not keep to our lazy loafing time, some insis- 
tent inner voice urges us to be watchful of news 
and we join the crowds of harvesters, village 
beauties and sun-kissed children, that gather about 
news-vendors, follow postmen and hang around 
telegraph stations. 

At last! Our patience has been rewarded, the 
papers tell us that on yesterday, the 23rd, after 
the note was sent, Koudacheff, Russian Charge 
d'affaires in Vienna, asked for a longer term to 
answer and vague rumors come by wire that the 
Servian Government has started its mobilization. 

Suspense and suspicion are rife. Crime back of 
crime and plot within plot, threaten the peace of 
all Europe and the "to be or not to be" of the hour 
has been and is Russia, the power behind the 
Servian Throne. 

The Romanoff holds the destiny of all nations 
in the hollow of his hands. What will he do with 
it? 

''Does Russia want war?" is the burning ques- 
tion of the hour. 

July 2Sth. There is War and Rumors of War ! 
Every moment of these days is troubled, one 
thinks war, speaks war, dreams war, dreads war. 

Into our Garden of Eden has crept and crawled 
the Serpent of Strife. 

Even the veriest idler idles badly and one and 
all hie many a time a day to the market place for 
news. 

On the 25th of July at six p.m. the term ex- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 9 

pired and on the 26th the Servian Government 
rendered a reply complying with some of the 
Austria-Hungary conditions, but so plainly show- 
ing in all essentials, by procrastination and pro- 
posals of new negotiations, the plan to escape the 
just demands of the Monarchy, that the Austrian 
Government discontinues her diplomatic relations 
with Servia. 

Why play and parley? Why further dally with 
Servian assurances, whose value, to her loss she 
has largely experienced? 

From this moment of forced decision in forced 
defence of her national life, Austria is at War with 
Servia and proclaims this fact on this 28th day of 
July, 1914. 

The hand of the Moscovite has pressed the but- 
ton. The dogs of war are let loose. 

What will it mean? Where will it end, this 
declaration of war? 

What of our astute diplomatists who claim a 
pen greater than a sword? What of the Hague 
and its annual summer gatherings of peace-makers? 
What of the powers that guide and guard? What 
of the apostle of peace in the Western hemisphere 
backed by a mighty Republic ? Will these — will all 
these stand by and watch the Cossack break arms 
and call for her Allies? 

July 2)Oth, 19 14. We hear that the last passenger 
trains are to go through, and that all communica- 
tions, post and telegraph, will be taken over by the 
military authorities. 

There is Switzerland and Italy to fly to, but 



10 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Italy, if she keeps her troth, will soon be under 
arms and the Alps offer only an asylum, or isola- 
tion from kind and kindred, so we hurry to Munich 
to be in touch with events and friends. 

In haste, we fling our goodbyes, to the moun- 
tainland of beauty, and the train crawls through 
passes and crevices, into the half-Italian, half- 
Austrian Trento where we get but scant news, but 
get on our way to Munich. 

We feel relieved when we have gotten to the 
centre of things. 

All sorts and conditions of folk and nations 
crowd the cars, French coming from Italy, Ger- 
mans from their play-ground of the Swiss land, 
and Americans from everywhere, all disturbed and 
distressed. We hear on all out-going steamships 
there is not a berth to be had. 

Can all this have a semblance of truth? Or are 
these holiday makers panic-stricken by their plight 
and presence in a land of strife. 

We arrive worn and weary, no porters to carry 
our baggage, all is hustle and bustle, confusion 
worse confounded, the world seems let loose in the 
station of Munich. We push through the crowds 
to arrive in a hotel, so well-ordered and with such 
tranquillity and assurances of well-being, that our 
fears are quelled, and in the "wee sma* hours" we 
settle down to our night of peace. 

July 2>'^st. The sun shines down on this 
Bavarian city, and the quiet of a midsummer day 
broods over houses and hamlets. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 11 

Music, the magic of music, that calls unto all, to 
come and hear, begins its reign. It is the first 
series of the Ring and motors come and go to 
bring the devotees to the kingdom of Wagner. 

There are no martial marches, no military in the 
great broad streets, only Art and Artists and idlers 
on pleasure bent. 

Was yesterday a dim dark dream? 

But, unwittingly, fears, sub-conscious fears, beset 
us and we decide to make for Berlin to know the 
best, — or the worst of the rumors that rush through 
the air. 

In hurried haste we gather bag and baggage, 
and get to the train. Such a scene! It beggars 
description ! Pandemonium ! 

The seven ages of man and of woman, from 
swaddling clothes to the hoary haired, are clamor- 
ing to get on board — anyway — to anywhere ! 

Transportation is the cry. Why this roar ? The 
terrible truth comes forth, that it may be the last 
passenger train out of Munich. 

The one conclusion is: the Czar does not accept 
the Servian situation and a German-Russian war is 
imminent. 

It is in the air; one sees it; one feels it, in the 
mad rush of everyone and everything. 

Although we have engaged a compartment there 
is hardly standing room, and all the night through 
it is breathing space we clamor for. An officer, 
done for, travel-stained and mud-bespattered, gives 
us seating accommodation out of his kit. 

There are the mountain climbers, the school 



12 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

children, the men of affairs, the professors and 
preachers, the sun-brown soldier-men and the 
stranger within their gates and this trainload of 
anxious humanity, homeward bound, settle down 
patiently in the long watches of the night, as we 
rush and push through country and towns on our 
way to Berlin. 

August 1st. This morning of August ist dawns 
bright and fair, as we steam and speed through 
green fields and pastures new and the rich wood- 
lands encircling the Capital of the Germans. A 
land of peace and plenty, with all the quiet, country- 
side going their wonted ways in the early morning 
hours ! 

And, it is only by looking into the tired and eager 
faces of our fellow travellers that we remember the 
dark, dreary night dream now born into a reality. 

It is too strange to be true ! 

The iron horse pulls us into the station. At last 
we are arrived. 

Doubtless, in the world's history, events of such 
import have never succeeded one another so 
rapidly and ruthlessly, as on the 30th and 31st of 
July, 1914. 

Chroniclers in days to come will draw many a 
pen over many a page before they can give to the 
children of men, this picture of kaleidoscopic 
events which blind the eye and blur the brain. 

Russia has dictated to her Servian serfs and now 
proceeds with her game of the world's pawns. 

From the 28th of July, from the very beginning 
of the Austro-Servian conflict, Germany has as- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 13 

sumed the position that her duty lies in localizing 
the war, and towards convincing other powers, that 
Austria-Hungary had to appeal to arms in justifi- 
able self-defence, forced upon her by conditions. 

No civilized country or Ally has the right to stay 
the arm of Austria in this struggle with barbarism 
and political crime and simultaneously the Austrian 
Government informs Russia that their action 
against Servia is only a defensive measure, against 
Servian agitation, and that it has no intention of 
shifting the balance of Power in the Balkans. 

With the German declaration to localize the con- 
flict, both the French and English promise to act in 
the same direction. 

But it seems on the 24th, Russia officially de- 
clares she could not remain indifferent to the con- 
flict, which resulted in reiterated statements from 
Germany that she only wished Peace at her fron- 
tiers and from Servia that it claimed no territorial 
gain. 

On St. Petersburg then rests the decision for the 
peace of the world. 

The hand that holds the sceptre is to wield the 
power for good or evil and decide the fate and 
destinies of many peoples and of many nations. 

The War Lord,* as Emperor William II of Ger- 

*War Lord, Kriegsherr, in German means leader of the 
army, which is a constitutional right. For the matter of that, 
the President of the United States is the "War Lord" of his 
country. As a matter of fact, Lincoln as the President had 
more absolute control of the American army than has the 
German Emperor, who is a strictly constitutional ruler. 



14 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

many has oft been styled, has proved in these days 
of high tension to be the Peace god. 

To the onlooker in this foreign land one fact 
stands firm — that Russia has been guilty of flirting 
with the peace terms and diplomatic relations of 
Germany in order to gain time to secretly mobilize, 
and like the flirt with only one aim, to play and 
cheat. 

While Germany was striving and straining to 
bring forth peace the Czar had, unknown to the 
Kaiser, ordered mobilization. The interchange of 
telegrams between these two potentates are pub- 
lished as official documents in the German White 
Book and speak for themselves. 

Shoulder to shoulder with England, Germany 
labored incessantly to swing back the pendulum of 
war but accumulation of Russian troops all over 
Germany's Eastern frontier and a declaration of 
war over the Franco-German frontier banished 
further doubts as to the ultimate intentions of 
Nicolaus although simultaneously all such mea- 
sures were denied on word of honor to the Kaiser's 
representative at St. Petersburg. 

Acting upon this information the Kaiser tele- 
graphed the Czar, calling his attention to the men- 
acing character of the Russian mobilization during 
the continuance of his own mediating activities and 
on the 23rd of July wires the Czar stating his 
knowledge of these questionable dealings and in 
the face of this that his "mediation has become 
almost illusory." 

In spite of all these warnings and implications 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 15 

Russia makes no changes in her plans and prepara- 
tions and on the 31st July the German Emperor 
telegraphs his cousin: — 

"I have gone to the extreme limit of the possible 
in my efforts for the preservation of the peace of 
the world. 

"It is not / who bear the responsibility for the 
misfortune which now threatens the entire civilized 
world. 

"It rests in your hands to avoid it ! The peace of 
Europe can still be preserved by you, if Russia 
decides to discontinue those military preparations 
which menace Germany and Austro-Hungary." 

At two o'clock the same day the Czar tele- 
graphed: — 

"I confide with all my faith in the grace of God, 
and I hope for the success of your mediation in 
Vienna — and for the welfare of our countries and 
the peace of Europe." 

At this time, at this moment, Russian mobiliza- 
tion was in full swing and after it became known 
in Berlin the Imperial Ambassador in St. Peters- 
burg was instructed on the afternoon of July 31st 
to explain to the Russian Government that Ger- 
many would declare war as a counter-measure, 
followed by mobilization unless Russia cease her 
military measures within twelve hours and notify 
Germany thereof. 

It is stated that General von Moltke, Chief-of- 
the-General-Staff, urged this upon Bethmann-Holl- 
weg, the Chancellor, knowing full well that further 
peace and patience would lose Germany and the 



16 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Germans many hours of useful, important mobili- 
zation. 

At the same time the Imperial Ambassador in 
Paris was instructed to demand from the French 
Government a declaration within eig^hteen hours, 
whether it would remain neutral in a Russo-German 
war. 

The results of these efforts and failures on the 
part of the ruler of the German people are now, 
only too well-known. 

So, we arrive in Berlin, after our hurried journey 
from the Southern Tyrol, to find that in a few 
hours, the sword of Damocles will have fallen. 

To the onlooker, the outsider, the absolute out- 
sider, the men and women from the far-away 
world over-seas, to those that have eyes to see and 
ears to hear, writ, in big black letters, is treason 
and treachery, to the German Father and his 
Fatherland. 

To the veriest non-partisan, who may think in 
his American mind of this as a "European scrap" 
— even to him, it is all too evident. 

It is four p.m. We have been to the American 
Embassy. Throngs upon throngs demanding news 
and direction, excited, hurried people! 

The last train goes through to Flushing to-night. 

After all our rush and steady travel, we are too 
late for it and have no passports. 

All the officials and they are well-trained men, 
diplomatic, military, and naval representatives 
under Mr. Gerard, the Ambassador of the United 
States, all these are sanguine. 




The Empress of Germany 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 17 

There is still time, some hours yet for Russia to 
stave off the blow of blade and bastion and like a 
drowning man who catches at straws, we hope in 
these bitter hours. 

We go to our rooms in the Hotel Adlon, over- 
looking Unter den Linden, to rest, to collect our 
scattered brains, and to try to believe from assur- 
ances and re-assurances that no hand of might and 
main could have the desire to light a torch that will 
undoubtedly start a conflagration, that will blaze 
out, from North to South, from East to West. 

But they wot not, whereof they spoke or hoped. 

5.30 p.m. It is all over, the die is cast! 

Russia sends no answer. The time limit has ex- 
pired! War is proclaimed from the house-tops 
and the market places. 

And later, we learn at this moment Russian 
troops cross the German frontier and march into 
German territory. Incredulous traitorship. 

Russia begins the war. 

Uneasy for ever must lie the head that wears 
this crown, and woebetide, the hand and heart that 
gives battles and battalions their being! 

On this same memorable afternoon France 
answers — "that France will do what our interest 
demands." 

Pen can't write, words can't describe, sights and 
scenes before us. 

The great broad avenues of great Berlin, are 
crowded to overflowing with a cheering, clamoring 
throng as the Crown Prince on his way to the 



18 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Chancellor, motors by, calling out to right, to left, 
"Mobil." 

The word is wildfire, it ignites the populace. 
The enthusiasm is enormous. And then comes the 
Emperor, who is to give his speech in Parliament 
with his never-to-be-forgotten message to his 
people. 

"We have now no different parties. We are all 
one party. We are Germans T And all Germany 
in answer stands up like one man. 

Prince and peasant, from lowlands and high- 
lands, statesman, socialist, soldier and seaman, 
young men and old men, rich and poor, all — all 
join hands and heart in indissolidable union. 

There is no dissension, no discord, it is Union — 
a great grand union, of brain and brawn ! 

There is no turning back now. Forward! is the 
watchword. Forward to victory and God bless our 
arms, for in God and their country's right these 
Teutons most firmly give their troth and trust. 

And, ten thousand times ten thousand voices, rise 
in the midnight air, chanting "Die Wacht am 
Rhein." 

This is what we see — this is what we hear — on 
this fateful night the sequence of whose day's 
events will bring sorrow and suffering victims and 
victories to the sons of men and change the politics 
and policies and swing and sway the destinies of 
nations into a changed map of Europe. 

August 2nd. Yesterday afternoon France gave 
her answer by mobilizing her army and navy and 
to-days opens hostilities. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 19 

The Teuton, then is in warfare, with the Slav 
and the Latin! 

In nations, as in individuals, one seeks the 
"motif" the main-spring of movement. 

France feminine has her national amour propre ! 
She wants back her jewels; Alsace and Lorraine 
must sparkle again in her diadem. 

This and this only is doubtless France's "just 
cause" and the "why and wherefore" of her hoard- 
ing her gold, for the French are more or less 
peace-loving, pleasure-loving; they want their life, 
they zvant their gains which warfare robs and ruins. 

And Russia. 7^ Russia bought and paid for by 
France settling her war debts or is she but a link 
in a great chain of complications and compacts? 

Time only will reveal these secret stories of 
statecraft. 

Austria is on the defensive for her territory. 

Germany for her Fatherland and fireside. 

These are the four great nations in battle array, 
drawn up by the Entente and Alliance. 

Italy on the one side, England on the other, 
silently watch and wait. 

The unbelieved and unbelievable has happened. 
We are in a country at war. 

What is war? 

We know it by song and by story, and tales of 
old, hut the war of to-day — what means it? with 
man's inventions of the last decade. Death-dealing 
weapons of earth and sky and sea, and mighty 
ships on the mighty oceans ! 



20 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

To think of, to picture the modern battlefield, is 
hell let loose. 

Every stranger within the gates of Berlin, is 
dazed beyond words at the quick-firing events of 
the last twenty-four hours and every man, woman 
and child of them cries ^Westward Ho." 

But Berlin is already under martial law. Mars 
— the great god Mars, reigns supreme. 

Passenger trains and traffic are stopped by the 
War Minister. 

We must face the serious situation; there is no 
way out. We are trapped, so to speak. Americans 
to the number of one-hundred thousand in Ger- 
many, and, at least, twenty-five thousand in Berlin, 
are caught in the country. 

The Embassy is beseiged by a seething mass; 
passports are the thing to secure safety. 

These are grave times, the present is dark and 
one has misgivings of a darker future. 

We go to the telegraph to get a message home; 
it is difficult; nothing is accepted except in the 
German language and then most carefully perused. 
Ours is returned with a red line through although 
it is only personal. 

Everything is under "censorship" and strict 
surveillance; no post accepted. We must try to 
realize conditions and also, there will, most prob- 
ably, be the difficult question of finance. 

But, so much is passing to and fro, to claim our 
keen attention that worry over personal prospects 
is forgotten. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 21 

There is movement to the right and to the left 
of us. 

The same crowds of patriots that broke forth in 
their patriotic songs of the night before are also, 
a well-ordered, well-working machine. 

Germany is no sluggard. She is alert. If she 
is not quick to anger, she is quick to action. 

The word "Mobil" does not ring out for naught. 
In twelve hours after the order is given, one- 
hundred thousand troops are passing through the 
City, forty-eight thousand horses are ordered out 
by the military and twelve thousand Red Cross 
men are leaving with their out-fits. 

There is no haste or hitch. 

It is incredible, the electric spark has been set to 
all departments; and all moves with decision and 
like clockwork. 

It has come so quickly about, it is all so uncanny 
= — so unreal — that one feels as if one had wandered 
unwittingly into some moving picture show. 

We are to witness the remarkable spectacle of 
the moving of a great army. 

The moment is intense. 

Motors hurry up and down the streets, throwing 
leaflets "official extras," to the hungry groups. 

Crowds collect, crowds rush from pillar to post; 
but it is such a well-ordered populace; no disputes 
and wild gesticulations and vain boastings. 

The street scenes, the street cries of Berlin at 
this critical moment of the nation's capital are well 
worth seeing, well worth hearing. 



22 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The Vox Populi gives forth one cry of indigna- 
tion against the enemy outside the gates; one cry 
of God and guard within and with such a power 
and pressure of enthusiasm push onward and for- 
ward by righteous wrath. What can Germany not 
do in crossing swords in a most righteous cause ? 

And over all there is a master spirit, a master 
hand, in the personality of one born to the purple. 
In Potsdam is the Kaiser, in the near-by Schloss. 
To His Majesty goes all praise, — for his personal 
magic, that has melted and merged all parties into 
one and which proves to the world the unity of his 
people, in which, there is no hint of hesitation of 
being, one of heart, of soul, and of body, in the 
Germany around the Kaiser ! 

And now the troops are marching by, bright of 
face, clean of limb, stout of heart, brave in their 
new field uniform of dull dark grey, or rather mud- 
color, spick and span from top to toe and to the 
notes of music and clink of sword, they go forth to 
the fight, to be food for the cannon and there is no 
sign or signal of aught, but courage and confidence 
in every mother's son of them. One sees they 
hear nothing, heed nothing, want nothing, but 
Victory. 

This is the first day for the call of the reserves. 
Trains and traffic everywhere, not for pleasure or 
commerce, only for soldiers and soldiery. 

One hundred-thousand Germans have left Paris 
over Belgium for their "ain countree" to escape the 
French mob and the Dutch get to Holland and 
eight-thousand motors are shipped to the French 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 23 

frontier, Mark Brandenburg, and the German 
troops are already marching in Luxemburg. 

The French Embassy is just opposite us and 
there is much excitement, with the crowd pressing 
outside its portals guarded by the guardians of the 
law. 

Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador, has been 
given his passport and is leaving under the protec- 
tion of the Government, and the really beautiful 
Embassy of France has all light extinguished and 
curtains drawn. 

One remembers the proverb of Solomon that 
"Hatred stirreth up strife." 

The German cruiser "Augsburg" has bombarded 
and put Libau in Russia on fire. 

War is a fact. 

Rumor has it that a French motor loaded with 
gold for Russia is on its way through the city with 
two women of high degree. 

Secret police everywhere. 

Now in the early night there is a mob in the 
streets below. They are arresting Russian spies 
who have secreted bombs. 

One feels as if one was living in old historic 
times, in the times one reads about, on a quiet 
evening at home and all this has come in just two 
days. 

August 3r(i. Another busy, busy day wakes to 
life. Has it ever slept? The tramp, tramp of the 
soldier boys is never ceasing. We must be up and 



24 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

doing. We mean to bide our time and then set sail 
for the "land of the free." Little we know the 
difficulties ahead; but the yellow coin is what we 
most need now to help against haps and mishaps, 
that might come in a moment's change of events. 
We pass the Russian Embassy; the last are 
leaving with frightened faces, as they get into a 
"Droschke.'' A man, with long dishevelled hair 
and beard, and the woman by his side, are trem- 
bling for their very lives, in the Unter den Linden. 

The crowd is great; they gaze at these people 
of a hostile nation; but there is no shouting, no 
hissing, no insult — all is quiet, all is order. Re- 
markable. One gets the impression that Germans 
have been trained to attend to their own busi- 
ness. 

At the banks we are astonished to find that we 
are cut off from money as well as from home. Our 
Letters-of-Credit are not accepted. We go to all 
banks and meet with the same refusal, except the 
Dresdener, which is doing its utmost to help out 
everyone, even by small amounts, fifty to one- 
hundred and fifty Marks being about the largest 
sums given, a great concession and accommoda- 
tion. 

Everyone is confused by this new aspect of 
affairs. American Express Cheques are not 
cashed and two women standing by us having large 
letters on Brown, Shipley & Co., London, are also 
refused. 

What does this mean? England withdrawing 
her gold, her credit. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 25 

One fears the worst, — but one can't give cred- 
ence to what one fears, and I remember in Paris 
on the 26th day of May we could get no gold in 
change, the reason given, the politics, the political 
situation. Was France then mobilizing her 
finances? Of course, yes. 

The American Ambassador and Mrs. Gerard, 
and the Embassy staff are working with head and 
heart to relieve and arrange the situation and such 
a strange situation it is. No way to get out of 
the city and no way to live in it. Everyone is 
caught unprepared. It is rather terrifying; but 
surely in a few days things will right themselves. 
However, it will be very hard on many. 

There are women with parties of as many as 
twenty girls "seeing Europe," families with chil- 
dren, anxious to get them out of the danger zone; 
invalids who have come for their health, bankers 
with great interests at stake, aghast, at the prospect ; 
those with small savings who have stinted for 
many a year to see what they have read about ; the 
capitalist off on his vacation, rich man, poor man, 
all suddenly without funds. One cannot borrow; 
there is no one to borrow from. Washington must 
come to our aid, and, at once, to cope with the 
situation. Cables are sent. 

Out of the counting-house into the street. At 
this history-making time there are many who may 
fret and fume over privations, and being kept in 
"durance vile"; but there are also privileges, one 
must recognize and realize that it is a very wonder- 



26 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

ful thing to be present at the passing of such 
stirring, epoch-making events, and to get the near 
view-point of what others will only read of; for 
it is all beyond the dreams and dread of human 
ken. 

Would that I could paint a picture that all the 
world might see. 

The German mobilization, is one of the greatest 
movements of people that the world has ever seen. 
NiCarly four-million men have to be transported 
from every part of the Empire to her borders. 

There is a hurrying of thousands and hundreds 
of thousands of soldiers and transporting of mate- 
rial of every sort. 

German discipline, once so slandered, now cele- 
brates its triumph. 

There are no deserters, no shirkers, no cowards, 
and volunteers come in far exceeding the number 
that can be used. They come from all classes, the 
nobility, university students, farmers, merchants, 
artists too and singers, and from all creeds, the 
Protestants, the Catholics, the Jews, the flower of 
youth and the boy scouts, all swell the ranks, no 
calling hangs back. What a spectacle! And, by 
this time the army is increased to many times its 
normal mobilization. 

If, this continues, only "les inutiles" and the too 
young, and the too old, will be left behind; but 
even they refuse to accept the — No — and if, un- 
successful in one regiment, try another. This is the 
ardor of all born under the German flag ! It is the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 27 

medical man, that some fear, and I heard of a lad 
to-day whose answer may go down in history: 

"A brave young lad of sixteen years 

Enlists like all the rest, 
The doctor tells him that he fears, 
Too narrow is his chest. 

" 'Tis broad enough to stop a ball, 
'Twill only be my loss; 
And if God wills, it's broad enough 
To wear the Iron Cross." 

Can one conquer a country made of such stuff? 
No, ten thousand times — No! So Germany, all 
Germany is mobilized, as well as the Army and 
Navy. And to-day they begin to march out by the 
thousands, infantry, cavalry, artillery from Berlin, 
Potsdam and Spandau, the garrisons within reach, 
and probably from all the others in Germany. 

The scene beggars description. They are not 
sent off with weeping and wailing. The streets 
swarm with enthusiasts who are tremendously in 
earnest, singing "Deutschland, Deutschland iiber 
alles!" Hat-waving, hand-waving, cheers, as they 
go forth, and not one of them thinks of death and 
destruction — but only of victory! And so this 
gigantic gathering moves up and down from one 
end to the other of Berlin. 

To the call of their leader, to the call of the 
trumpet, to the tap of drum and sound of fife they 
go. The battle cry is in the air. And they are 
decked out so gaily, green leaves on their helmets, 
green leaves on their coats, green on the horses' 



28 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

harness, the waving green greetings of Hope. And 
half-grown girls hold out handfuls of red roses to 
these warriors, to wear on their breast as they 
march out through the Brandenburger Gate, on 
which the bronze Goddess of Victory upholds 
the Prussian Eagle, smiling down a silent bene- 
diction. 

All classes and casts of regiments from the 
Garde-Corps to the Linientruppen, from the 
Uhlans, the Deathshead Hussars, the Blue Dra- 
goons to the man in the ranks, all are joined in one 
common army for one common cause. 

The gay insignia of silver and gold, of blue, red, 
of all colors, with helmets of eagles and plumes of 
black, and plumes of white, are transformed and 
transfigured into the fighting field uniform. 

What master minds must be at the back of this 
great movement in the military holy-of -holies — 
the General Staff? What master builders to con- 
struct the strategy, the war plan, the war map, the 
all-in-all of every detail that is brought forth to 
perfection. 

The military has become in these war days the 
Dictator. To its arms the country looks for de- 
fence, to the army it gives implicit obedience. In 
the most unimportant things, out on the borders, 
here in the cities the army reigns supreme and in 
the General Staff, this old building of fame where 
the great Moltke lived and died and which will 
stand for ever and aye, despite its ugliness, which 
hands down from generation to generation the 
archives and prestige of its heroes, it is here, the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 29 

endless work by day and by night goes on; for 
these men behind the gun know no hours, no holi- 
day, in the High Court of the Chief-of-Staff Gen- 
eral von Moltke. 

Here live and learn and labor the mental army, 
the mind army of Germany's Empire. And on the 
outside all is silent. It looks like some old deserted 
building left to its history and memories. 

We have just been to the station, for even as 
strangers we want to wish this mighty army host, 
God speed. Such organization of tram and train. 
Every man, everything has its allotted space and 
place, no pulling or pushing, or jostling or hustling 
as the troops go on board and it is also well 
ordered and orderly, one might believe that they go 
off to the Kaiser manoeuvres. 

But it is the women who have come to see their 
men off who have come for the "Goodbye", that 
makes us shudder and shake for the awful pity of 
it all. Sweethearts and wives that cling to each 
other to the very end, to the loves of their lives 
with blanched faces and agonized eyes, the awful 
fate of woman, to watch and wait, and many to 
weep. The men are of iron, there is no quiver of 
lip, or tear of eye, they are stern set in every 
nerve and muscle, though they give up those they 
hold most dear. Such Spartan people, God bless 
them and their cause. 

On the way back we get into crowds in the 
Konigsplatz. What an impressive scene in this im- 
pressive hour. There around the great black 
towering monument of Bismarck, who has stood 



30 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

so firm for his country, whose iron hand is still 
felt, soldiers and civilians, men, women and chil- 
dren, with bowed heads, kneel in prayer, while the 
service for the army is conducted in the open. 

The proud self-reliance of the ancient Chancellor, 
is expressed in his attitude, his left hand holds the 
sword firmly against his side and the right is 
spread upon the Charter of the foundation of the 
Empire and around this figure of strength at the 
sunset hour these people congregate for the service 
of prayer and to ask a blessing. 

August 4.th. "Day unto day utter eth speech, and 
night unto night showeth knowledge." But the 
speech, the knowledge is too astonishing and as- 
tounding for human ears and hearts to believe. 
England declares war. Here are the exchange of 
telegrams between the ruling cousins of sister 
nations, the official documents published by the 
German Government. This little, but important 
pamphlet is entitled: — "How the Franco-German 
Conflict Could Have Been Avoided." 

Telegram of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of 
Prussia to H. M. the King of England of July 
2,0th, 19 14. 

"Am here since yesterday, have informed Wil- 
liam of what You kindly told Me at Buckingham 
Palace last Sunday who gratefully received Your 
message. 

"William, much pre-occupied, is trying his ut- 
most to fulfil Nicolaus' appeal to him to work for 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 31 

maintenance of peace and is in constant telegraphic 
communication with Nicolaus who to-day confirms 
news that miHtary measures have been ordered by 
him equal to mobilization, measures which have 
been taken already five days ago. 

"We are furthermore informed that France is 
making military preparations whereas we have 
taken no measures, but may be forced to do so any 
moment should our neighbors continue, which 
then would mean a European war. 

"If You really and earnestly wish to prevent this 
terrible disaster, may I suggest You using Your 
influence on France and also Russia to keep neutral 
wliich seems to Me would be most useful. 

"This I consider a very good perhaps the only 
chance, to maintain the peace of Europe. 

"I may add that now more than ever Germany 
and England should lend each other mutual help 
to prevent a terrible catastrophe, which otherwise 
seems unavoidable. 

"Believe me that William is most sincere in his 
endeavors to maintain peace, but that the military 
preparations of his two neighbors may at last 
force him to follow their example for the safety of 
his own country, which otherwise would remain 
defenceless. 

"I have informed William of My telegram to 
You and hope You will receive My Information in 
the same spirit of friendship which suggested them. 

[signed] "Henry." 



32 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Telegram of H. M. the King of England to Prince 
Henry of Prussia of July 2>oth, 19 14. 

"Thanks for Your telegram so pleased to hear 
of William's efforts to concert with Nicolaus to 
maintain peace. Indeed I am earnestly desirous 
that such an irreparable disaster as a European war 
should be averted. My Government is doing its ut- 
most suggesting to Russia and France to suspend 
further military preparations if Austria will con- 
sent to be satisfied with occupation of Belgrade 
and neighboring Servian territory as a hostage 
for satisfactory settlement of her demands, other 
countries meanwhile suspending their war prepara- 
tions. Trust William will use his great influence 
to induce Austria to accept this proposal, thus prov- 
ing that Germany and England are working to- 
gether to prevent what would be an international 
catastrophe. Pray assure William I am doing and 
shall continue to do all that lies in My power to 
preserve peace of Europe. 

[signed] "George." 

Telegram of His Majesty the Emperor to H, M. 
the King of England of July 2>'^st, 19 14. 

"Many thanks for kind telegram. Your pro- 
posals coincide with My ideas and with the state- 
ments I got this night from Vienna which I have 
had forwarded to London. I just received news 
from chancellor that official notification has just 
reached him that this night Nicolaus has ordered 





^^^^H^^ H^^B '^^^^1 


^^^^^^K^^'\ ^^^E__ ^^^^1 


^^^l^^i^Pbu^l 




^^^IC^^^^I 




^^^^JH^^^^^^K 4 / ^^K^^MgH^^^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 


1^1 



The Crown Prince of Germany 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 33 

the mobilization of his whole army and fleet. He 
has not even awaited the results of the mediation 
I am working at and left Me without any news. 
/ am off for Berlin to take measures for ensuring 
safety of My eastern frontiers where strong Rus- 
sian troops are already posted. 

[signed] "William." 

Telegram of the King of England to His Majesty 
the Emperor, of August ist, 19 14. 

"Many thanks for Your telegram last night. I 
sent an urgent telegram to Nicolaus expressing My 
readiness to do everything in My power to assist 
in re-opening conversations between powers con- 
cerned. 

[signed] "George." 

Telegram of the German Ambassador in London 
to the Chancellor, of August 1st, 1914. 

"Sir E. Grey just asked me by telephone whether 
I believed to be in a position to declare that we 
would not attack France in a war between Ger- 
many and Russia in case France should remain 
neutral. I declared I believed to be able to give 
such an understanding. 

[signed] "Lichnowsky." 



34 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Telegram of His Majesty the Emperor to H. M. 
the King of England of August ist, 19 14. 

"I just received the communication from your 
government offering French neutrahty under guar- 
antee of Great Britain. Added to this offer was 
the enquiry whether under such conditions Ger- 
many would refrain from attacking France. On 
technical grounds My mobilization which had 
already been proclaimed this afternoon must pro- 
ceed against two fronts east and west as prepared ; 
this cannot be countermanded because I am sorry 
Your telegram came so late. But if France offers 
me neutrality which must be guaranteed by the 
British fleet and army I shall of course refrain 
from attacking France and employ My troops else- 
where. I hope that France will not become ner- 
vous. My troops on My frontier are in the act of 
being stopped by telegraph and telephone from 
crossing into France." 

Telegram of the Chancellor to the German Ambas- 
sador in London of August ist, 19 14. 

^^ Germany is ready to accept British proposal in 
case England guarantees with all her forces abso- 
lute neutrality of France in Russo-German conflict. 
German mobilization has been ordered to-day on 
account of Russian challenge before English pro- 
posal was known here. It is therefore now impos- 
sible to make any change in strategical distribution 
of troops ordered to the French frontier. But we 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 35 

guarantee that our troops will not cross the French 
frontier before 7 p.m. on Monday the yd inst., in 
case England will pledge herself meanwhile. 

[signed] "Bethmann Hollweg." 

Telegram of H. M. the King of England to His 
Majesty the Emperor of August 1st, 19 14. 

"In answer to Your telegram just received I 
think there must be some misunderstanding as to 
a suggestion that passed in friendly conversation 
between Prince Lichnowsky and Sir Edward Grey 
this afternoon when they were discussing how 
actual fighting between German and French armies 
might be avoided while there is still a chance of 
some agreement between Austria and Russia. Sir 
Edward Grey will arrange to see Prince Lichnow- 
sky early to-morrow morning to ascertain whether 
there is a misunderstanding on his part. 

[signed] "George." 

Telegram of the German Ambassador in London 
to the Chancellor, of August 2nd, 19 14. 

"Sir E. Grey's suggestions were prompted by a 
desire to make it possible for England to keep per- 
manent neutrality, but as they were not based on a 
previous understanding with France and made 
without knowledge of our mobilization, they have 
been abandoned as absolutely hopeless. 

[signed] "Lichnowsky." 



36 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The essence of Germany's declarations is con- 
tained in Emperor William's telegram to the King 
of England of August ist, 19 14. Even if there 
existed a misunderstanding as to an English pro- 
posal, the Kaiser's offer furnished England the 
opportunity to prove her pacific disposition and to 
prevent the Franco-German war. 



The thoughtful reader cannot help but realize 
that this awful world-wide catastrophe might have 
been averted if these three blood-related kings, 
each with his separate Chancellor and army chief 
had met face to face and talked head to head and 
heart to heart. 

Human nature, human passions are the most 
subtle factor in life and have built and have broken 
dynasties and cannot be reckoned with over wires. 
They are too potent and powerful, they out-do 
state-craft and undo international law and he who 
counts without this reckoning is lost. 

The revenge of France, the greed of Russia, the 
jealousy of England formed the Entente that sets 
forth to confuse and confound the nations of the 
world, to sacrifice the life-blood of nations, to de- 
plete treasuries, to destroy commerce, to work high 
havoc from east to west. 

To-day German troops are in Belgium the 
neutral hallway into France. Why break the 
neutrality? Under what law of God or man? 

But Germany, as the world will some day know, 
is not the guilty party. French troops are known 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 37 

to be massed on the Belgian frontier. Why — if 
France does not mean to enter for her own end 
and aim? This is proof positive and there is no 
time for dallying further with treaties. It is a life 
and death question. Besides, French aviators have 
flown across the then neutral Belgium to carry out 
warlike plans against the lower Rhine districts of 
Germany and appear above unfortified cities in 
South Germany seeking by throwing bombs to 
destroy the railways. French officers, disguised in 
German uniforms try to cross the Belgian-German 
frontier to destroy German institutions in German 
territory. Who breaks the laws of neutrality? By 
all this, Germany is forced to act, for her own 
protection. 

It is really a very life and death question and 
already she has lost two days in mobilization to 
give peace negotiations every chance. 

However, it will be suicidal to hesitate further! 

Germany would have exposed itself to a military 
defeat if it had still respected the neutrality of Bel- 
gium after it had been announced that strong 
French detachments stand ready to march through 
the country against the advancement of the German 
army. 

"He who runs may read," and in the end fair 
judgment will be given to this puzzling, perplexing 
question of right and wrong, for there can be no 
question, there can be only one verdict. If the 
game is not a fair game, then a move must be taken 
against an unfair one. From boy to man there will 
be but one answer. 



38 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Thus Germany was compelled, with great reluc- 
tance to decide to request Belgium to allow the 
German troops to march through Belgian territory. 

The Belgian Government was assured that its in- 
terests would be conscientiously guarded, that she 
was to be indemnified after the war, and to retain 
her integrity and sovereignty. 

Belgium protested, at the same time allowing, 
that by an agreement with France the French 
troops might enter Belgium. After this, and not 
until France and Belgium had broken the neutrality 
did the German army enter. 

There was nothing Germany wanted of the Bel- 
gians but she had to prevent it being used as a 
gate of entrance to German territory. Belgium's 
answer to this assurance was refusal, or declara- 
tion of war. Not a wise act but within formal 
rights, so Germany after doing all in her power is 
forced by the action of France to strike and strike 
quickly, to fight for her life. 

Through all this Germany had a firm belief in 
Great Britain's love of peace, but Great Britain 
asks in return for her neutrality that the German 
forces should not enter Belgium, as a matter of 
fact, in other words asks that Germany should 
allow French and Belgian troops to form on Bel- 
gian territory and march against her frontier, asks 
that England remaining neutral should take the 
right to put the weapons safely in the enemy's 
hand. 

How could such a proposition be entertained? 
The situation was untenable, but Germany, nothing 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 39 

discouraged, still earnestly continued efforts for 
peace and made England the following offers for 
her neutrality, viz : That Germany would leave un- 
molested the maritime commerce of France and not 
attack the Northern Coast, indemnify Belgium and 
safe-guard its sovereignty. 

In spite of all this Great Britain declares war on 
Germany, and sides to-day with those Continental 
powers, who have united for Germany's destruc- 
tion in order that Muscovite barbarism may rule 
Europe. 

It is plain that both France and Russia desire 
to give to Germany the appearance of having 
broken the peace. Did Germany ever want war? 
ever want to break the peace? 

One arrives at an argument, — "if there's a will, 
there's a way." 

There were no end of excuses, before the tragedy 
in Sarajevo brought its consequences, that Germany 
could have used as a pretext to bring about war, 
if war was the thing she was looking for. But 
Eternal Peace was the ambition of the Emperor 
and the German people. He and his subjects 
had but one aim: The peace and prosperity of 
Europe. 

Let us look at the Monarchs of Europe. 

Who can show greater capacities, larger views, 
and greater love of peaceful progress than the 
German Emperor? 

He has been ruling for twenty-five years, and all 



40 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

this time has had the power of beginning war, at 
any moment, and yet, this is his first war. The 
time of his reign has also been the period of the 
greatest, uninterrupted progress of Germany, of 
a progress so great that it has astounded the whole 
world. 

What other ruler can equal his record? 

And from what we know of the Germans, in 
our own country, they would not, one and all, 
gather around their Kaiser unless he suited them. 

With the peasant gathering in the summer's 
plentiful crop, the factory-hand working with ac- 
customed vigor, with the industrial life, in full 
swing, and commerce on land and on high seas, 
bringing great gains, with envy and malice towards 
none, and no canker in the heart of her rose, why 
should Germany, successful at home and abroad, 
wish to take up arms and imperil her kingdom, 
except for her own defence? Why stake all to 
gain nothing? 

If, even after strenuous struggle she saves her 
life, she pays a very dear price, in blood and coin, 
but it is verily, for her very life. She is attacked 
and surrounded on all sides by enemies and last, 
but not least, stands England. England! Who 
speaks the white man's language turns against her 
kith and kin. What a blot on the world's history, 
what a blow to civilization. A house divided 
against itself must fall. Sir Edward Grey may 
scheme his schemes. Lord Kitchener may plan his 
warfare; hut, there is no good in it for them; for 
Germany's sword is clean and King George in his 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 41 

early reign looks down on a great wrong done and 
the world of the white man is silent with shame. 

It is a sorry scheme of things ; it strangles hope 
for the civilization of the peoples of the world. 
And England, is the Lord High Executioner, she 
who raises high her church steeples, who sends 
forth her missionaries and plants her colonies in 
wilds and jungles, — by this single act forfeits her 
supremacy absolutely as a Christian nation and can 
no more sing her "Onward Christian Soldiers." 
She has cast, her lot with the Philistines. 



The war meeting in Parliament has to-day given 
prompt and quick arrangement for the ways and 
means of this warfare and five milliard Marks 
credit is unanimously appropriated. 

Everything moves so quickly and quietly that it 
is difficult to realize that now in eighteen hours 
three-hundred and eighty thousand reserves are 
leaving with artillery, and six-thousand horses are 
passing through the streets to be transported. Pro- 
cession after procession of wagons with field guns 
and war ammunition, drawn by four horses with 
the green leaves bobbing on their heads and green 
branches decorating the heavy projectiles are 
heavily dragged through the streets to be shipped 
to the borders. 

And, the great vanguard moves on and on, — such 
system prevails. And system must win every day. 
The regiments marching in are greeted, the regi- 
ments marching out are sent off with joyful songs. 



42 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

At the Embassy we get the news that England 
has cut the cables to America. Thus we are abso- 
lutely cut off and almost panic prevails; but there 
is a rumor that a warship with officers and gold 
has been sent to help us. How we will welcome 
the flag of Stars and Stripes. But all strangers in 
Berlin and especially Americans are receiving only 
kindness and the most courteous treatment and 
every effort is being made to extend every hospi- 
tality and comfort. There is not one complaint. 
Hotels and pensions open wide their doors and 
there is no question of payment until relief comes. 
What more could one ask for ? 

The Belgian Minister is leaving his Legation 
which is filled with art treasures and there is much 
commotion at the British Embassy, for Sir Edward 
Goschen leaves to-night. It is late now in the 
evening when he is to get off. There is a large 
crowd under our windows for the Embassy is near. 
All of a sudden there is great indignation and 
angry surging back and forth of what comes nearer 
to a mob than anything we have seen. There is 
unrest in the streets, now black with a dense mass 
of humanity, controlling a suppressed fury towards 
England and the Englishman. A member of the 
British Embassy selects this critical moment to fling 
open the windows and toss copper coins on the 
heads of "these patient dogs of Germany," crying 
out, "Take this you German beggars," and pelting 
them with empty cigarette boxes. How useless, 
how unnecessary, how insulting ! Their fury knows 
no bounds. Many a stone is hurled at windows. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 43 

and facade, before the mounted police can divide 
and scatter them and then they surround the Hotel 
Adlon where the secret police are arresting Eng- 
lish citizens and the correspondent of the "Daily 
Mail." 

England's declaration of war is to Germany 
the unkindest cut of all, all feel and say "Et tu 
Brute." 

August $th. The whole wide world stands dumb- 
founded and confounded before such a catastrophe. 
Five great nations of Europe, Austria-Hungary, 
Russia, Germany, France, England, with swords 
unsheathed, stand ready for the mightiest conflict 
ever known in the history of man. 

It is just forty-four years ago in this same month 
since the Franco-Prussian war, which we read of 
and think of with horror. The Avenue des Morts 
tells the story and that war dwindles into a pigmy 
of battles compared with the giant forces of diverse 
tongues and nations which are to fight out to the 
bitter end the Supremacy of Race. 

The old Field Marshall von Moltke said after the 
war of 1870-71 that the Germans would have to 
defend Alsace-Lorraine for fifty years more and 
Bismarck prophesied this war-cry; but neither one 
nor the other, though both soldier and statesman, 
could conjure up in their wildest dreams such a 
conflict as will gather on the plains, on the borders, 
in these coming weeks. 

Mind of mortal man fails to grasp the greatness 
of it, heart of man quails at the awfulness of it. 

Germany is absolutely surrounded by enemies. 



44 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

She is edged in by hostile forces on all sides. She 
is like the stag at bay with the hounds in full pur- 
suit, but from Konigsberg to Constance, from Up- 
per Silesia to the Belgium frontier, from all the 
multitudes there is no murmur of the faint heart, 
no feeling of fear. 

It is, "no such word as fail," one reads in their 
bright blue eyes and decided faces. 

There is an old saying in Germany that "He who 
is strong and stands alone is mightiest," and verily 
Germany and her only Ally stand alone. 

Women offer their services to the Red Cross, 
and the boys, just the half-grown boys form as 
boy-scouts to take the field, to carry the wounded, 
to wait on nurses, to do the million and one things 
where their fleet young feet can relieve the work 
of men and women. 

The Germans are known far and wide to be a 
sentimental people. It is this, deep down, deep- 
rooted in their hearts, the deep sentiment of the 
home, of the country that sends sends them on 
their way in such calmness to do the serious work 
that lies before them. Consequently, there is no 
excitement ; there are no excesses, no street brawls, 
no disputes, as far as the populace goes all is quiet 
as on a Sunday afternoon in peace time. 

They laugh, they joke with the children that run 
by their side, they all sing "Lieb' Vaterland, magst 
ruhig sein!" 

It is almost a joyful sight, big dogs, little dogs, 
with bows of ribbon, of black, white and red, scam- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 45 

per about. The street vendors sell their flags, the 
newsboys shout the war news, and the crowd fol- 
lows and among them hurry swiftly the police and 
the young officers, the jeunesse doree of Berlin, 
the pampered darlings of fashion, they who have 
loved rose leaves and rose notes, who have dillied 
and dallied with pleasure, the sybarite in his youth 
and beauty, the lotus-eater, who is to prove that 
underneath the kid-glove is the hand of steel. 

All these make up the motley strong and the 
shop-keeper who has offered his ^ wares under 
French and English names is busy covering them 
with the German flag and hotels are tearing down 
their signs. Hotel Bristol becomes Hotel Uhl, 
and so on. One sees many amusing as well as 
many sad sights in the Berlin of to-day. 

There is victorious fighting already with the 
Russians and the towns in Algeria are bombarded 
by German warships. Algeria with its "foreign 
legion'* and French troops that may be transported 
to the aid of France and Montenegro declares war 
on Austria. 

The Emperor orders a Day of Prayer in Berlin 
and Potsdam and thousands of troops kneel in 
divine service, while the royal families attend ser- 
vices in the Dom. It was Germany that gave the 
Bible to the world through Luther and Luther's 
belief and words "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" 
runs strong through them like the web through the 
woof. 

There is the new founding of the Iron Cross by 
the German Emperor originally given by Frederic 



46 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Wm. Ill in the War of Liberty against Napoleon 
I, for great bravery and merit "more honor to 
wear iron than gold," and many an old soldier of 
fame saunters through the streets wearing his badge 
of courage, regretting his white hairs and aged 
years that hold him back from the front and many 
a young one, yet unknown to the smoke and din 
of battle, secretly cherishes the hope that the day 
will not be far distant when he, too, can wear it 
on his coat. 

And in another way there is a flare-back to the 
iron age for they carry their patriotism into the 
heart of their homes and sacrifice themselves per- 
sonally to an extent that has not been seen in the 
world since the Frederick the Great's times. A 
society that is formed "Gold gab ich fur Eisen" 
(I give gold for iron), is an example of this, as it 
received five-thousand wedding-rings to-day to be 
melted down, the proceeds to be devoted to the 
alleviation of the sick and wounded all over the 
country. 

Depots have been opened up where all kinds of 
articles have been received as subscriptions in aid 
of those at war and these depots are crammed with 
material some of which is most valuable. The of- 
fers of service made voluntarily by those not called 
upon to serve already exceed one-million four- 
hundred thousand. There are families where 
eighteen members or more are all serving in the 
ranks. 

Every moment now brings new fears. Italy is 
silent, Holland, Scandinavia and Spain, neutral. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 47 

What will the man in the White House do, across 
the seas? 

The natural sympathy of America and Ameri- 
cans should go over to the German side, for there 
are about sixteen millions, who have made their 
home with us, useful and prosperous citizens and 
influential men. There is no other foreign coun- 
try which can boast of this, both North and South 
of Mason and Dixon's line. But every true Amer- 
ican here is uneasy as to how far the American 
press will be influenced by England and France and 
hozv far the public will be influenced by the Press. 
For by England's cutting of the cables or taking 
possession of them, no German description of what 
has actually occurred can be sent. Germany is 
shut off, with a hedge from the outside world and 
all the news that American officials will get is sup- 
plied by Germany's enemies. 

So American newspapers will most likely, give 
out false and absurd reports and we can only hope 
that they will wait until German information can 
get to them before giving their judgment, for this 
is a war where the head of our nation and our 
nation's policy may demand a strict neutrality, but 
also where a great country, with a great people 
with a conglomerate population, will voice their 
feelings somehow. 

So Germany fights to-day for her very existence, 
she will fight knowing the great powers beyond the 
ocean will do her justice as soon as they knozv the 
truth. Many will think that our America, the El- 
dorado so far away across the seas, is the only 



48 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

country not to be affected by this general European 
war and that more gold than ever before will 
flow to its shores like the honey from the honey- 
comb. 

How thoughtless. // they only stop to consider 
that our import and export trade will be cut off, 
then they can calculate the final effect on our 
trade. 

But the new Germany has made great commercial 
advancement. As a result of its agricultural econ- 
omy and intensive farming, it is to-day, the third 
largest agricultural country in the world. And in 
coal and iron it is second only to America, the 
Government-owned railroads bring in a higher rev- 
enue than those of England and France, and for 
forty years this nation has concentrated all its 
energies on peaceful industry. So Germany^s for- 
eign trade is great and she purchases from the 
United States more than any other country in the 
world. 

Her imports from our country to-day stands to 
the figure of $430,000,000 and her exports to us 
nearly $180,000,000. 

War, however, means the ruin of commerce and 
if peace is not soon established our golden America 
will suffer greatly. One can readily see that the 
last days of July were days of anxiety and distress 
for the German people ; they hoped that they would 
be permitted to preserve an honorable peace ; but on 
the fourth of August, on the Anniversary of the 
Battle of Weissenburg and Spichern, the repre- 
sentatives of the German people met, and this ses- 




Kaiser Francis Joseph 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 49 

slon, which lasted only a few hours proved worthy 
of the great historical moment that marked the 
beginning of such a conflagration as the world has 
never seen. 

So, if this be a sorry time for one country in 
Europe, it is also one for the Western Hemisphere. 
Before and above all, we preach, the same doctrine 
of humanity and forbearance, "Live and let live.'* 
We should be fast and firm friends, by election and 
predilection. 

And it is not only profit, but pleasure too, that 
we take out of the German Empire, now so hard 
pressed. Music, the opera, the concert, science and 
learning, in diverse ways, are to be counted to our 
gain, and we also lose from the Dual Monarchy. 
Kreisler, the Austrian violinist, with his magic of 
music, who has gone to show that he can play with 
the sword as well as with the fiddle and the bow, 
and Nickisch, the Hungarian, the wizard of the 
orchestra, who has worked his way back in a cattle 
wagon from Ostend, and men of learning and re- 
search have dropped archives and alchemy to take 
the sabre. 

Ca7i, we not, just for once, look ahead, and see 
that Germany's battle is our battle and that her 
victory and her defeat mean our victory and de- 
feat too? 

August 6th. We are in a strange position, 
strangers in a strange land! Thrown by chance 
and circumstance, in the capital of a country at 
war with half the world our individual lives has 
come to an abrupt end and for our interest and 



50 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

occupation we must be alive and awake to the pass- 
ing of the days and cast in our lot with those 
about us. 

Berlin is a moving war-camp. At the general 
shipping head-quarters, it looks like a great busy- 
ant-hill. Everything that is needful and necessary 
for soldier-life and camp-life is mobilized here and 
sent off. Wagons of blankets and cloths and 
bandages for the Red Cross, the old time uniform 
being cleaned for new recruits and field bakeries 
and field kitchens prepared for the field, besides 
wagons upon wagons of loaves of bread, square 
bread, long bread, and one sees almost a sea of 
grain-wagons heaped high and there are many 
wagons of hay, and the horses, sway up and down, 
over the city streets. 

Nothing is forgotten, the Ways-and-Means Com- 
mittee, intends that the soldier boy and the horse 
that carries him are to be well provided for. One 
can spend hours watching the processions and the 
precision of this gigantic undertaking as they get 
all in readiness for transportation. 

There are ammunition cars with their deadly 
weapons and the long, queer-shaped things that 
carry the apparatus for telegraph and wireless, 
wagons that carry the material for pontoons, for 
bridges, ambulance cars for the wounded, horses, 
droves of horses that come from East Prussia to 
the Western border from Schleswig-Holstein and 
Hanover, and coal is being transported to the war- 
ships. 

And as we thread our way in and out of the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 51 

streets we meet the lancers on horseback and an 
infantry regiment with music, whole cities of men 
and material on the move to the trains miles long, 
destined for distant frontiers and the grey motors 
of the General Staff, with their far-calling, far- 
crying trumpet, announce the approach and give the 
right-of-way over all traffic to the army. 

There are no unforeseen accidents or incidents. 
Military trains arrive at the stations with no delays 
and the tremendous problems on hand seem never 
to be problems at all, so smoothly and successfully 
is everything, to the merest detail, carried out. 

Head work and hand work has been going on 
unremittingly all the day long. When one force 
gives out another is ready to take its place and the 
result is a perfect army. 

The streets make a busy scene, the cafes are 
open, and they play the national airs, but, the men 
who made the music are gone and women take 
their places, and an army of women workers come 
forth, the women who have been left behind and 
now we have women orchestras, women on the 
street cars and girl vendors of German flags and 
badges of American stars and stripes. 

The horses of the Royal Mews go by, exercised 
by the top-hatted, gorgeously apparelled grooms, 
horses of race, bowed neck, satin-skinned, Arabian 
strain, prancing in pride, so soon to go to face the 
cannon mouth. 

And, on the other side of the Linden, is a swarm 
of yellow dragon-flies, the flying machines, the 



62 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

aeroplanes, moving on trucks to take their flight in 
the air and look down as the moon and stars from 
above on the bivouac of the enemy. 

We stop at the Embassy for news. The same 
untiring work goes on, the same unending patience, 
the State Department at Washington can be well 
pleased with its place and people. 

An officer ready for the field calls, the Em- 
bassy was once his home, he asks for the privilege 
to go into the private rooms, where his father and 
mother died to make his prayer before he goes to 
battle. 

August i6th. In the history of the world the 
month of August, 19 14, will stand blood-red on its 
pages. Pen cannot write, word cannot tell, in this 
present time, of all that takes place to-day, but 
many a future historian will chronicle authentic, 
historic events to show to those who are left to 
live on the appaling scenes and happenings of these 
awful days. 

Towards the evening hours there is always a 
rush to the offices of the "Lokal Anzeiger" which 
publish in the windows a list of official telegrams. 
If it is good news there is a cheer, and even the 
children go through the streets singing. If it is 
discouraging, or no news at all, they go quietly and 
silently on their way. There are also the big war 
maps in the windows on which are pinned the flags 
of the countries at war to show the position, the 
advance or retreat of the different armies, just as 
at sea we study the course of a ship, and one can 
hardly push through the crowds that are anxiously 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 53 

waiting for news and anxiously studying the course 
of events. 

These have been very eventful days, they have 
brought to Germany her first victory, for the Ger- 
man army decided to strike swiftly and surely and 
began its campaign with splendid success. 

Five days only after mobilization Liittich 
(Liege), Belgium, is taken, a very strong, modern 
fortress, by comparatively weak German forces, in- 
flicting severe damage on the enemy and opening 
up the way, via Belgium to France. It seems al- 
most incredible that in this short space of time 
troops could ever have arrived or much less taken 
a fortified town. 

Someone has said that England's chief objection 
to Germany was that she got up too early and took 
no week-end holiday. This victory meaning so 
much to the German army in opening the Belgian 
door and clearing the way for the onward march 
of troops is a surprise to the most sanguine and is 
proof positive that officers and men have been very 
much up and doing! 

There are four-thousand Belgian prisoners, but 
many a brave young German lies dead or dying, 
on the plains, around the strong-hold that General 
von Emmich has so successfully stormed. 

It comes as a surprise, even to the Germans and 
a surprise to all the world, this devastating, death- 
dealing weapon, that Krupp has manufactured to 
deal out destruction to the fort and fortresses 
standing guard over the road and route of the 
enemy. The bomb of 17" (42.5 cm.) will bore its 



64 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

way into any mortar or material that man can 
build. 

But the story of the downfall of Belgium's 
mighty wall has a sequel before which the world 
stands aghast. For Belgium backed by France and 
France by England has urged her people on to meet 
her enemy if not by fair means then by foul. One 
cannot entirely blame the Brabant peasant for the 
tales of blood-shed that darken our civilization of 
to-day. 

At the outbreak of the war, the Belgians, incited 
by their superiors committed the most barbarous 
crimes against the peaceful Germans, while Ger- 
many was caring for in a proper, humane way, the 
non-combatant subjects, of hostile states, such as 
traveling salesmen, pleasure-travelers, patients in 
health resorts, who happened to be in the country 
at the time of the declaration of war. 

It was a disgraceful breach of war that private 
dwellings, of Germans were plundered, and German 
women dragged naked through the streets by the 
mob and shot, children thrown from the windows 
of German homes into the streets, and sick persons 
driven from the hospitals and trustworthy reports 
of all these occurrences from responsible sources 
are at hand. 

And the sequel to the beginning of horrors finds its 
fulfilment in the treatment of the wounded after 
the battle w^hen the eyes of young men were gouged 
out, ears and noses cut off, and the surgeons of the 
Red Cross, carrying the wounded, caring for the 
dying, were not respected, but shot at. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 55 

The cruelties of the Congo have been out-done 
by the Belgians when it comes to this, that in time 
of war, among nations the laws of humanity re- 
specting the helpless and unarmed, the women and 
children, are no longer observed. 

The population of the country took part in the 
battle, the troops were fired on from ambush, phy- 
sicians were shot at, and in the face of this guerilla 
fighting, against armed forces, the German troops 
in self-defence were forced to give no quarter. 
The details of the cruelties are only hinted at, but 
an eye-witness writes that women, girls and boys 
indulged in such atrocities, as have only been wit- 
nessed in negro warfare. 

One shrinks and shivers, even at the thought of 
this scene of horrors, upon which the glorious 
August sun shines down! So Germany issues a 
sharp protest to the belligerent powers, France and 
Belgium, and the troops have instructions to sup- 
press every menaceful attitude of the peasant-popu- 
lation, any person, otherwise than a soldier carry- 
ing arms, destroying telegraph wires, utilizing ex- 
plosives. In short, any unauthorised person taking 
part in the war is to receive summary justice and 
ordered to be shot. 

Music is in the air, the battle music; it is the 
Second-Guard regiment leaving for France. Oh! 
the tragedy, the horror of this World War! 

Austria is reported to be successful in Servia and 
the "Queen Louise," a small passenger boat has 
had the daring, for mine-laying purposes, to enter 
the Thames and destroy the English cruiser "Am- 



56 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

phion/' and then follows news of advance and re- 
treat of the German forces and an Echec in the 
mountains of the Vosges — troops driven back, and 
on the loth, they beat the Seventh French Army 
Corps at Miilhausen. 

What an awful strain and suspense these days 
of battle, even the air seems to be still and a feel- 
ing of awe creeps over all. 

The Czar issues a proclamation to the Jews, re- 
minding them of the noble way in which they have 
been treated — of the benefits bestowed on them and 
various promises are held out to the children of 
Israel, as they are being called upon to serve volun- 
tarily. There are thousands of Russians being held 
here in custody, partly for their own safety and 
partly for political reasons, — twenty-one generals 
most of them no longer in active service, and four- 
thousand Russians under police surveillance at 
Doberitz who are well looked after, and enjoy a 
certain amount of freedom. 

Special trains for Americans desiring to go to 
Holland are scheduled to go once a week; the sta- 
tion is a sight to see, the American flag from the 
engine to the last passenger car waves "Goodbye" 
and "Good Luck." 

They go to The Hague, where they wait most of 
them for a stray chance of a vacant berth to get 
them safely home. In the Berlin City Hall there 
is a German- American meeting of sympathy. The 
crowd is so great one can only get standing room, 
and the address by His Excellency, Prof, von Har- 
nack, will be remembered long by all, especially 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 57 

these words — "This civiHzation of ours, the most 
precious possession of the human race, was prin- 
cipally entrusted to three peoples, yes, to them 
almost alone, to us, the English, the Americans, I 
cover up my head, two of the three are left, the 
sand of the desert approaches us." 

Where is the sharp eye of the American ? Can't 
he scan the Pacific and see the Yellow haze? 

Evidently the German army tarries not, neither 
does it sleep. On August nth, at Luneville, a 
French brigade is beaten, the first French flag is 
captured, two batteries, four maxims, and seven- 
hundred prisoners are in German hands, and on 
August 1 2th, the great day in Scotland, the opening 
of the moors, when the sportsman goes forth, to 
bag his game, German submarines are patrolling as 
far up as the Shetland Isles. 

One's brain whirls, every day brings some new 
surprise, some new suspense and America and all 
that it holds most dear lies far away over the 
ocean. We read diligently the papers and follow 
closely the trend of events and watch for every 
sign or feeling, for, or against us, as it is known 
the American Press is crying "Down with the Ger- 
mans'* from the Golden Gate to the Statue of 
Liberty. 

But the Germans are just and faithful; they 
realize that only news of the many enemies have 
gone Overseas and they must bide their time for 
fair judgment. 

Spain announces her neutrality and Germany 
again warns France and Belgium of their frank- 



58 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

tireurs. Why will they not take the warning? 
Why will they not read the handwriting on the 
wall? Why not stop the useless carnage and shut 
the human slaughter-house ? That is what Belgium 
is to-day. It fairly reeks with blood and writhes 
with agony. Is there no neutral power to call a 
halt? or, is this the Sodom and Gomorrah of our 
world to-day? 

The Landsturm is called out; all the men who 
have served in the army from every walk of life, 
from seventeen years to forty-five, the general levy 
of the people. 

On our way to Charlottenburg we meet them 
coming, in companies, to the garrisons. We go 
through the Palace Gardens, laid out by Le Notre, 
and there, old women under old trees gossip of 
wars, and tell tales of by-gone days, and boys play 
at soldiering, all this in quiet paths, in woods and 
woodlands, that lead to the Mausoleum where 
Frederick Wilhelm III and Queen Louise are laid 
to rest. But the way is barred we cannot pass, 
the Emperor is to come for prayer, for His Ma- 
jesty goes to the battle-field in the early morning. 
His six sons have already left, the Crown Prince 
leading his own army. 

August lyth. The tramp, tramp of the soldiers, 
still goes on. Twenty-thousand cavalry are leav- 
ing and in the thirty-six hours one-hundred and 
eighty-thousand infantry and artillery going to the 
French and Russian border. It seems as if there 
could hardly be a man left in all Germany. 

This is the harvest-time and the harvest has 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 59 

never been so plentiful ; but the harvesters are gone 
and the boy-scouts go into the fields to bring in 
the yield of the ground and, later they will work 
the prisoners! It is reported there are many de- 
serters in the Russian army and Cossacks are cross- 
ing the borders and selling their horses for Twenty 
Marks to buy food. 

The French prisoners are arriving in Frankfurt 
and Stuttgart and the wounded will soon be coming 
in. There is a call for more volunteers for the 
Red Cross and in two days at the Parliament 
House, thirty-thousand men and women enlist and 
Krupp, the gun-maker, gives One Million Marks, 
and the Jews Sixty-thousand Marks for the 
wounded, and One-hundred and Twenty-two thou- 
sand for the families whose men are in the field. 

Three thousand bakers leave for the front and 
one-hundred and .sixty-thousand loaves of bread are 
sent to the army and the chocolate manufacturers 
send free to the soldiers, three-hundred thousand 
packages and we see the fruit being packed off to 
them in the boats. 

It is stupendous, the work that is being carried 
on, by so many different people, in so many dif- 
ferent ways ! There is not an idle person in Berlin. 

Bjornson, the son of the Norwegian poet, writes: 
"An imposing calmness inspires this great nation; 
thus they go into this war, the greatest that a 
nation ever had to wage!" 

There is a song service in the Dom and through 
this irregular 6, with its statues of Luther and 



60 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Calvin, peels forth the organ, and the music, sung 
by a great choir ends with a prayer before the 
battle ''Ich rufe dich,'' which was written by a 
young German poet of patriotic songs who gave up 
the pen for the sword to join the volunteers in the 
great war of 1809-13. He gave his life — he was 
wounded, and a few hours before his death wrote 
the wonderfully beautiful "Schwertlied" — The 
Sword Song. 

How solemn and still it is in this great cathedral 
with rows and rows of silent people ! 

We meet to-night the vans, the great closed yel- 
low vans, bringing in the wounded. One after 
another they move slowly through the streets. 
Hats are off, there is a silent, "welcome home," 
one poor soldier holds out his bandaged arm, and 
the crowds press forward to press his hand. 

We begin to realize the unspeakable sadness of 
war, and that many lie dead on the battle-field. 

August iSth. The Emperor Franz Josef to-day 
celebrates his eighty-fourth birthday. He is be- 
loved by his people who look upon him more as a 
friend than a monarch and titulate him as "Our 
Franzi." Seldom has a monarch undergone more 
trials. His brother, the Emperor Maximillian of 
Mexico, was murdered, Johann Orth disappeared, 
his only son Rudolf met with a tragic end, his 
wife, Elizabeth, died by the assassinator's hand, 
his nephew, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the 
successor to the throne, together with his wife, 
were the victims of a political plot (the Duchess 
of Alencon was burnt to death at the Charity 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 61 

Bazaar in Paris), and now at the age of eighty- 
four he looks out upon a world at war and his 
Errtpire engaged in a tremendous struggle for the 
very life of his Kingdom. 

His cup has been running over with sorrow. 
One hopes he will be given the draught of victory 
before his dying day. 

August 20th. Official correspondence is just pub- 
lished to the effect that Belgium is not inclined to 
accept Germany's offer to suspend hostilities, de- 
spite Germany's offer not to annex any Belgium 
soil and quit Belgium immediately when hostili- 
ties are at an end. This is the strongest proof that 
binding agreements have been made between 
France, England and Belgium for a mutual war 
against Germany and which cannot be annulled 
now. 

The end is not yet. Japan has sent her ulti- 
matum to Germany, against whom she has no 
grievance. How proud and pleased England, fair 
England must be. She pushes forth Belgium and 
France to cut the way and locks arms with the 
Cossack and the Yellow peril to walk in. But 
where does the way lead? 

It seems that Japan has an agreement with Eng- 
land from 1895 that in case of war Japan is to 
come to her assistance. England now calls for her 
aid. So the Japanese Charge d'Affaires in Berlin, 
acting on instructions from his Government hands 
a note to the Foreign Office in which the immediate 
withdrawal, or the disarmament of German ships 
in Japanese and Chinese waters is demanded, fur- 



62 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

ther, the German Government is called upon to hand 
over, unconditionally, the whole leased territory of 
Kiautchau to the Japanese before the twenty-third 
day of the month of August. 

It is the most brazen ultimatum, that has ever 
been presented in the world. Is Great Britain 
proud of her brother in arms? 

Germany's only answer is sending the Japanese 
Ambassador his passport. It is stated that the 
United States Government attaches particular value 
to the status-quo, being upheld in China and ob- 
jects that Kiautchau should pass into other hands. 
It would awaken the greatest discontent in the 
United States, should Japan take possession of the 
Samoan Islands, especially in the strategic impor- 
tance that the Islands have in connection with the 
Panama Canal. 

The Governor of Kiautchau cables, that he and 
the garrison "will do their duty." It can only 
mean a massacre when the Japanese enter in. What 
is a small German colony against so many? This 
might well be called a war of commerce on the part 
of Great Britain, whose battle cry is pounds, shil- 
lings and pence, and, who for this act, bequeaths 
to her childrens' children a very heavy burden of 
shame ! 

It may be proved in days to come that England's 
refusal to remain neutral in the European war is as 
stupid a crime as Lord North's decision for war 
with the Colonies in 1776, or as was the Crimean 
and the Boer war. 

Every day brings news. The battle at Gum- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 63 

binnen and Angerburg is a victory for Germany, 
with eight-thousand prisoners and eight field-guns 
taken. 

A prince of the church Hes dead in Rome. The 
tolhng of the bells of St. Peters announce the pass- 
ing of Pius X. 

There will never again be a Papal conclave held 
under such circumstances and never such a journey 
as that of the cardinals to the holy city. 

August 21 St. Brussels is occupied by the Ger- 
mans, the flight of the King, the Royal family, and 
the Government, to the fortress of Antwerp, point 
to the fact that all hopes that the united French 
and Belgian troops had of preventing the German 
forces from attacking further has been abandoned. 
The news of this success is received with the great- 
est enthusiasm in Berlin and the Provinces. 

There is a great victory at Metz, and the Vosges, 
won by the Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria, 
who led his troops valiantly. This battle lasted 
two days and is the biggest battle fought since fifty 
years. The whole result cannot yet be gauged for 
the battle-field occupies a larger space than that of 
the struggles of 1870 which busied the whole of the 
German army! 

August 22nd. The German Crown Prince beats 
the French Army at Longwy. The battle-field was 
one-hundred kilometers long, twenty to thirty thou- 
sand prisoners have been captured, and this victory 
from the present outlook, one might almost think, 
means the "to be" of Germany. The Kaiser has ad- 



64 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

dressed the following telegram to his daughter, the 
Duchess of Brunswick: 

"God our Lord has blessed our brave troops and 
given them the victory. May all of those at home 
go on their knees and offer up prayers of thanks, 
and may the Lord remain with us, and the whole 
of the German nation in the future. 
"Your faithful father, 

WlLHELM.'^ 

The news of these successes of the German army 
being made known in Berlin, flies from mouth to 
mouth amongst a jubilant population. There is 
no reason to doubt its truth. Everyone is con- 
vinced of its genuineness by the brief, concise words 
of the official telegram. Masses of people collect on 
Unter den Linden and before the Palace patriotic 
songs are sung and the Kaiserin and the Crown 
Princess appear on the balcony and acknowledge 
the thanks of the crowds amidst deafening cheer- 
ing, and the church bells welcome the news. 

England was expected to send a great army, but 
only a comparatively small number volunteered for 
the front. "Tommy Atkins" is not so keen for a 
pay for nine shillings per week, to give up his life. 

It must be of great satisfaction to the Germans 
that out of one-million, seven-hundred thousand 
volunteers, ninety-thousand men are from Alsace- 
Lorraine, and this, contrary, to the reports that 
these countries' sympathies were more French than 
German. But, in England the war is not popular 




Chancellor Bethmann von Hollweg 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 65 

with the working-man and Mr. John Burns, Secre- 
retary of State, and a prominent member of the 
Labor Party, resigns from the Ministry. 

He declares in the press that he is on the side 
of peace and the neutrality of England. He states, 
the war trumpet was blown in order to stifle the 
inner political crisis in England and England risks 
all in the struggle. He knows best the great 
organizations of the miners and the other labor 
combines agree with him and it is false to say that 
public opinion in England is unanimous for the 
war. 

//, England had had more men of the type of 
John Burns in the Cabinet the world might have 
been spared the greatest of tragedies. 

The son of the Bavarian Crown Prince lies dead 
in Munich, a boy of just thirteen years. Ruprecht 
of Bavaria does not leave his troops to go to the 
death-bed of the Prince Luitpold, his son and heir. 
He telegraphs, he has, "no time to mourn." He 
has a stern duty, a country, his country must be 
saved at all costs and personal griefs must give 
place to the national welfare. This is the unwrit- 
ten code of all who fight under the flag. 

The Franktireurs are continuting their atrocities 
and the scenes and sights in the Brabant country 
where the oflicers and men in the rank and file go 
down before the bullets from ambush, where un- 
speakable, indescribable brutalities and bestialities, 
are committed on the bodies of the living and the 
dead by the Belgium furies, are said to be beyond 
believing. 



QQ WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

August 24th. The Germans are now marching 
towards Maubeuge. The victorious battles at the 
French border, from North to South — almost from 
the North Sea to Miilhausen, have been fought 
undei' the leadership of three princes. The Ger- 
man Crown Prince, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, 
and the Duke Albrecht von Wiirttemburg. 

While these battles were won in the West, the 
Germans won an important battle at Gumbinnen 
driving the Russians back over the border and thus 
freeing this grainland from the Russian invader. 

August 26th. Namur captured, the city and 
four forts in German hands. Lieutenant Otto von 
der Linde, for the taking of one of the forts out- 
side Namur, receives the order "Pour le merite." 
The highest military order in Germany, and this 
only at the age of twenty-two. 

Liittich, Huy, and then Namur. 

Such has been the sequence of Germany's vic- 
tories in Belgium. 

Namur is fifty kilometers west of Liittich and is 
the terminus of five important railway lines. It is 
already changed into a German city — a bridge was 
blown up by the Belgians, and in two days the 
Germans have built another a short distance to the 
North. The inhabitants of Hauvenir gave cigar- 
ettes to the victorious German soldiers as they 
passed through, which were discovered to contain 
explosives. Major Langhorne, of the U. S. Army, 
was one of those to visit Namur after the fall. 

There was great gladness and great sadness over 
the city of Berlin, — all over the German Empire. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 6Y 

Pride, for the armies of men, the hosts of the Em- 
peror, who carried the flag to victory, into the 
enemies' country and sadness and seriousness over 
the heads bowed down by grief and woe. For 
great victories bring great losses, and a most 
precious price is paid by these children of the 
Fatherland for the defence of home and hearth. 
No one can be unaffected by this great calamity, 
so widespread that inundates the countries far and 
wide. 

The Bavarians are strong fighters, the Blue 
Bavarian is a word of terror to the French, just 
as much as "Haesler is coming," and this veteran 
is now in the field, this hero of bygone days and 
the Austrians are far, very far from showing the 
white feather to the Russian and Servian forces. 

And with all these tidings, days go by with num- 
berless Americans in this country, hermetically 
sealed to the rest of the world. 

At last, the long expected, long-looked-for "Ten- 
nessee" has arrived at the Hook. The American 
warship brings the Assistant-Secretary of War, 
army and navy officers, three-millions in gold for 
private banking interests and one and a half mil- 
lions in gold to be used in aid of Americans in 
need. 

The relief, the rejoicing to so many, the news 
from the home country and the prospect of getting 
back is great and even the negro minstrels "the 
Black Diamonds," who are strapped without funds, 
give their services for a concert for the benefit of 
everybody. And strains of Dixie, the Swanee 



68 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

River, Old Kentucky Home, and all the old familiar 
songs of the cotton fields bring out all the odd 
coins in all pockets and one old black cries out: 
"I'se jest shure the jedgment day is comin' '' and 
many a white agrees with him. 

The Americans have received so much courtesy 
and consideration in this "house of trouble," that 
they go out of it, away from it, with deep sympathy 
in their hearts and a deep conviction of its right 
and all good wishes for a speedy victory. 

August 2gth. Count von Bemstorff, the German 
Ambassador in Washington, accompanied by the 
former Secretary of Colonies, Dr. Bernhard Dern- 
burg has made his crossing safely and arrived in 
New York. A protest is made against the unfair 
attack on the Germans and against the fact that, 
England should look for aid from the Yellow Race, 

Could anything be more disastrous for Great 
Britain's prestige than the Japanese attack on Ger- 
many under cover of the Anglo-American Treaty? 

Yesterday, August 28th, was a victory over the 
English Army Corps at St. Quentin, and advances 
by the Belgians from Antwerp have been re- 
pulsed. 

British and German soldiers have now crossed 
swords for the first time and the English have been 
beaten in the same way as their Allies. Those who 
know expected as much. Although the British 
soldier is an excellent fighter he lacks training and 
discipline. The English have been occupied with 
little wars, against all kinds of colored races, and 
it was a great venture to send the Expeditionary 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 69 

Force to the Continent, and the venture has met 
its fate. 

A great German victory has taken place at Tan- 
nenburg, East Prussia. Sixty kilometer battle-field, 
and seventy-thousand Russian prisoners, and about 
five-hundred guns taken. The Russian troops were 
driven back from the border, and those who were 
not killed or taken prisoners were driven into the 
Masurian swamps. It was a three days' battle with 
very heavy losses on both sides. 

The Lazaretts have their daily van-loads of the 
victims of war and the boats on the Spree have 
been successfully turned into floating hospitals. 

The woman's time has come. There are many 
wounded to heal, many dying to comfort. There 
is no lack of womens' nursing, there is no dearth 
of womens' tears! 

The hospitals are wonderfully organized; the 
one we visited to-day made a great impression as 
everything was so carefully planned. 

For instance, on every bedstead, there hung a 
new outfit for the wounded man in convalescence. 
His mud-splashed, blood-bespattered garments 
were not to be seen or worn; on every bedside 
table fresh flowers, and every tested scientific 
method to save life and limb is employed and in 
the Russian wards the same care and attention. A 
photograph of X rays, of every fracture, is taken 
and pinned to the chart of every patient. 

There is no gladness in the faces of these 
heavily- wounded men who have come out of these 
fierce battles, hurt and maimed, but with their lives. 



70 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

No thankfulness or joy. They seem beyond human 
emotions, just gazing into space. The booming of 
the cannon, the whiz of the bullet, the smell of the 
powder — they come out of this, and seem to re- 
member but little. They are shot; some of them 
don't even know it. 

One Russian, who spoke English, was an intelli- 
gent man; he had lived in Chicago and Detroit for 
a year, and after his success there had gone back 
to join his wife and children. He said he did not 
know what he was fighting for, but they were 
driven on by the Knout, and it was a chance of 
this death, or a bullet in the front. 

There were young Armenians in the war, and 
one poor dying boy was trying in German to 
thank the Red Cross sister who was smiling at him 
in his agony. Courage was given and help, the 
woman's part in great battles. 

They expect a winter campaign here, or, in the 
cold Russian country and the grey wool is being 
turned and twisted into everything useful, from 
stockings to ear-warmers. 

And there is another big work to do. The army 
of unemployed must be helped. The great army of 
men, women, and children, who are out of work 
by reason of the closing down of factories, great 
businesses and so forth! 

One sees no indigent paupers, beggars on the 
streets of Berlin. What a contrast to Kensington 
Gardens where the public green is black with hope- 
less humanity, on benches and grounds. But, these 
German people must be fed, must be tided over 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 71 

these times and the Red Cross has opened stations 
where meals are given on presentation of tickets. 

They give for lo Pfennigs, soup with meat and 
bread; everything is clean, well-cooked and good, 
and one sees here all kinds and conditions of 
people. 

It is all so well-organized. There is no fighting, 
or pushing, no unseemly scenes among the crowds, 
driven here, by the circumstances of war, to get 
their daily bread. 

So there is work for all to do in this city to-day, 
— for those at home, and those from abroad, heaps 
of work, for the willing hand and the willing 
heart ! 

September ist. There is a dark story, a death 
story, a black page in these days' history, which 
one wants not to read. It is the story of Louvain. 

The German troops are on their way, probably 
to Antwerp, and the citizens of this town of art 
treasures are peaceful, they receive the troops 
quietly, there is even friendly concourse. They 
are in the stations waiting for trains, in the cafes, 
in the streets, talking with the people, there is 
seemingly much friendliness, much pleasantness, 
much quietness, — evidently no animosity, no hatred, 
no excitement, — all goes well. 

But when the time time comes to leave, all the 
church bells ring out their cry and signal and the 
scenes of horrors begin. From the windows boil- 
ing oil is poured on the heads of the soldiers — 
shots are fired from roof and garden, bush and 



72 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

ambush, officers and men to the number of seven- 
hundred and over, fall before this unexpected 
attack from the inhabitants, who had agreed, to 
be quiet and peaceful, and in return were to receive 
every consideration, not a hair of their head, nor 
part nor parcel of their property and belongings to 
be touched by the passing army, and now, betrayed 
by the citizens the German army, for self-defence 
and self-protection give no mercy. 

When it became known that officials furnished 
firearms to the populace, planned the deed, excited 
the people to acts of violence, and that fifty Ger- 
man soldiers were found murdered in a cellar, 
butchered by Belgians, then Louvain was doomed 
to destruction. 

Nero never witnessed aught more awful in the 
burning of Rome, than those who looked on at the 
flames destroying one-sixth of this Belgian city. 
In the burning district, only the Town Hall was 
saved, the pearl of Louvain, and that by the effort 
of the German soldiers. Its wonderful lace orna- 
mentation has been entirely spared, not a leaf of 
the sculptured foliage, not a nose of the numerous 
statutettes has been touched. It stands out in bold 
relief in its beauty, in this fated city. 

This tale of turbulence is not a new one for the 
Brabant Louvain, they came rightly by their inheri- 
tance of cruelty, for as far back as 1378 during an 
insurrection, thirteen magistrates of noble family 
were thrown from the windows of the Hotel de 
Ville, and received by the populace below on the 
points of their spears, and when Duke Wenceslaus 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 73 

took the city in 1382, he severely punished the 
citizens, thousands of whom emigrated to Holland 
and England and from this period dates the decay 
of Louvain. 

Also, theire" is no compulsory school education 
in Belgium, and one out of every four cannot read 
or write. 

The Belgian Queen, with her children has 
escaped to Lord Curzon's place in England, the 
Belgian King has taken refuge in Antwerp and 
with him is his cousin, Clementine of Belgium, 
who married Prince Victor Napoleon, and their 
children the youngest being the Imperial child of 
France, so that England besides harboring Ex- 
King Manuel, will see in her borders the reigning 
King of the Belgiums and the future "Emperor** 
of the French, the so-called Pretender to the 
French throne. 

One hears that Paris is preparing for a siege, 
and that the beautiful Bois, has become a field for 
cattle and a soldiers* camping ground. Since the 
first German aeroplane has appeared over the city, 
all the art treasures of the Louvre have been re- 
moved to underground cellars, so the Mona Lisa 
goes out of sight again. 

Under the heading of the last heroic deed of the 
British, comes the news that the Lloyd steamship 
"Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" which was lying 
anchored and coaling off Rio del Oro, a Spanish 
colony in neutral waters, has been sunk by the 
English cruiser, "Highflyer'*, thus making a breach 
of neutrality. Might before right has become 



74 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

England's motto. Britannia rules the waves be- 
comes ''Britannia waives the rules." 

A number of Englishmen living in Munich send 
contributions to the Red Cross and desire their 
church to be used as a military hospital, an 
example set them by their compatriots in Ham- 
burg. They enclose a communication stating this 
action is taken as a protest against the policy of 
England, they add that England and Germany 
ought to be able, co jointly to defend the civili- 
zation of the Western countries. Slatin Pasha, 
resigns his commission, as General Inspector of the 
Soudan and offers his services to the Austrian 
Government. 

September 2nd. Forty-four years ago to-day, 
Napoleon III, was taken prisoner at Sedan and 
to-day, upon the Anniversary, Sedantag, the first 
trophies of the present war are brought to Berlin. 

The sun shines gloriously down on the patriotic 
scene; it is the one day they give themselves to 
rejoicing. They know full well they are not and 
will not be spared the dark sides of war, but ; they 
must come forth to-day to do honor to their flag 
and they come forth in great numbers from far 
and near. The Unter den Linden is black with 
people, watching and waiting for the procession, to 
pass through the Brandenburger Gate. 

It is wonderfully impressive; eighteen Russian, 
French and Belgian guns, and three machine guns, 
are drawn by captured Russian horses on their 
way to the Royal Palace escorted by eight of the 
Landstrum who captured the Russian flag. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 75 

There is not one, young and old, whose heart is 
not beating with pride and enthusiasm. Even those 
who are already bereft and bereaved by the rav- 
ages of war, they too come to view the trophies 
for which they have given their all. 

Women and children faint in the crowds and 
young Germany, the small boys dressed in the uni- 
forms of the Red Hussars, Blue Uhlans, clattering 
their wooden swords mount the captured guns and 
wave the Schwarz-Weiss-Rot. The most cynical 
old man would throb with enthusiasm too as these 
mere babies shout and cheer — while voices upon 
voices swell to the blue in the "Deutschland, 
Deutschland iiber alles." 

In the evening comes the news of a new vctory 
in France, near Verdun and through the cheering 
crowds comes a trained choir who stop in the Pari- 
ser Platz, and lead the multitudes singing, Kor- 
ner's ''Liitzow's Wilde verrwegene Jagd." 

How inspiring! Strange to say, this scene and 
song, is just in front, of the closed French 
Embassy ! 

September ^th. The Germans have arrived at 
the outer forts of Antwerp, and it is officially an- 
nounced, that the cavalry of the Army of General 
von Kluck is nearing Paris. The fortresses in the 
North, with the exception of Maubeuge have fallen 
without fight. 

President Poincare and the French Government 
have left Paris for Bordeaux. 

The Belgian King escaped to Antwerp, the 



76 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

French President to Bordeaux, the Emperor of all 
the Russias, is guarded in Moscow, the King of 
England behind the portals of Buckingham Palace, 
and the German Emperor out in the front with 
his great General Staff, cheering the troops, visit- 
ing the wounded and the Crown Prince and the 
Princes at the front taking the chances of war, in 
the thick of the fight for the Fatherland. 

A picture with color and contrast. 

At last, the great battle of Lemberg with a 
battle line of 400 kilometers is ended. For ten days 
it lasted with fighting never ceasing and after 
heavy, heavy losses on both sides, after great re- 
sistance, Austria, though victorious on her left 
wing is forced to give up Lemberg to the Rus- 
sians. 

Austria is fighting wonderfully. Where are the 
predictions pronouncing Austria, a mere jumble of 
disjointed nationalities, tottering to its decay? The 
hour of national danger had hardly struck, when 
all realized the significance of a common, national 
life, and to-day, without any distinction, Germans 
and Czechs, Magyars, the Southern Slav and 
Italians, to the number of one and a quarter mil- 
lion volunteers have rallied round the Emperor 
King. 

How can Russia be so united, where the knouted 
peasant starves in his pigsty, where the tortured 
Jew cringes at the feet of his tormenters, where 
oppression and barbarous cruelty reigns in Poland, 
Finland and the Baltic provinces and the aristo- 
crat is supreme and every human right is flouted 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 77 

and anarchism and nihilism are born and at 
home? 

Can there be unanimity here in this war? But 
the Czar must proceed. Since the Great Peter *s 
time, it is the Russian will to possess Constanti- 
nople. It has become clear to the Russians that if 
things remain as they are now, the way to Con- 
stantinople is through Berlin, Vienna being only a 
secondary consideratoin. 

September 6th. The Crown Prince has had 
great losses in his army, through a surprise of the 
French near Verdun. The fortress Rheims sur- 
renders to German troops under General von 
Billow, the bombardment of Nancy goes on in the 
presence of the German Emperor. 

A special meeting of Parliament has been held 
in London, the result is an agreement between the 
Allies whereby it is agreed that no separate peace 
is to be given to Germany from either England, 
France or Russia. The declaration is published in 
London, signed by Grey, Cambon and Benken- 
dorf, and reads: — 

"The governments of Great Britain, France 
and Russia, herewith agree that not one of them 
will sign a peace document of single peace; the 
three governments further agree that none of them 
will make an agreement of peace without consult- 
ing the other two Governments about the con- 
ditions of peace." 

This practically ends all hope of a short, de- 
cisive outcome. The wisest in warlore cannot pre- 
dict the duration, or the disastrous results to each 



78 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

and every country. If, swift and crushing defeats 
could bring about a speedy decison, or whether 
many months, or even years will pass in breathless 
tension and bring about a universal exhaustion — 
these ifs — no one dares to prophesy. 

England's declaration of war, England's present 
attitude has been and is the great blow to Germany. 
Two nations allied by blood relationship and the 
bonds of intimate associations, destined to take 
their share, side by side in the permanent work of 
civilization have come to the parting of the 
ways. 

England, who planned and plotted the war con- 
ducts it chiefly through her Allies. 

Now this ancient bond has been rendered asun- 
der, suddenly, and terribly for an indefinite time. 
Whatever will be the final result, whatever the 
situation of Europe, when the war is at an end one 
thing is certain: the old relation between Germany 
and England cannot be resumed, a bitter, unspeak- 
able resentment, distrust, and estrangement will 
last a long time, perhaps for ever. 

The hope of Christianity and civilization is shat- 
tered to atoms, if England spells victory. Not 
just England, but England plus this, that and the 
other ! 

The Pacific is threatened. Japan now declares 
that the report that she is sending troops to Europe 
is false. Japan has no intention of putting her 
troops at the disposal of another Government, 
either in Europe or elsewhere. 

And now we have the story of crime in war- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 79 

fare. After the taking of the French forces at 
Longwy, the German Emperor's troops found 
thousands of Dum-Dum bullets, which were manu- 
factured by special Government workshops, simi- 
lar bullets were found on dead and wounded 
French soldiers and also on British troops. 

The Dum-Dum is a jagged bullet, inflicting most 
terrible wounds, causing most agonizing suffering, 
and was manufactured by the English Government 
for Indian warfare and their use is strictly pro- 
hibited by the acknowledged principles of the In- 
ternational Law of Warfare, decided at The 
Hague and in Geneva. 

The only great Umpire that is left to judge is 
the only one of the great powers not yet implicated 
in the world war — the power over the Atlantic — 
the United States. 

Vienna diplomatists state that the United States 
has asked England whether she can give a satis- 
factory understanding that Japan will not endanger 
the integrity of American possessions in the 
Pacific. What will America do, what are we to 
expect ? 

This, is the question in the mind of every 
American in Europe, as the international situation 
becomes daily more complicated. The last infor- 
mation, is that America, is positively neutral. 
Americans have reason to put their trust in Presi- 
dent Wilson. 

Political parties and local issues will cease to 
exist in a situation so serious. Suffrage, tariff, 
trust-busting, and every other national question 



80 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

will be thrust aside, but, it is not now the party or 
platform that counts; it is the principle, and the 
personality of the President of the United States 
who has proved his ability as a leader, and now is 
his hour to prove his comprehensive view-point of 
the situation. 

Was it Germany's desire to expand? Had any 
sane German the wish to add still more Poles to 
his Polish provinces, or still more Frenchmen to 
his Alsace-Lorraine? 

Every square foot of land taken from its Rus- 
sian or French neighbors would have become a 
new burden to the German Empire. Germany 
wanted from her neighbors, nothing, but to be left 
alone. Germany victorious in the European tur- 
moil is liberated from the danger with which its 
neighbors have threatened it, for so many years. 
Germany defeated, the militarism of yesterday will 
appear as nothing to the over-militarism of 
to-morrow. 

Also the question of the Dum-Dum is too serious 
to be passed by. It is a breach of the International 
Law, of warfaring. 

So a protest is made. As message is sent from 
the Kaiser to the American nation by his Chancel- 
lor, von Bethmann-HoUweg, and Emperor Wil- 
helm sends a wire direct to President Wilson 
vehemently protesting against this kind of warfare, 
which has become one of the most barbaric known 
in history, and which has been condemned at In- 
ternational Conventions. 

But although the President may dictate neu- 




Admiral von Tirpitz 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 81 

trality, in regard to the European conflict, the 
American Press, ignores his exhortation and is at- 
tacking Germany in a most unwarrantable, most 
unfair way, both in articles and in caricatures 
which must deeply hurt the Kaiser and his people 
who have always been our friends, and have 
always shown themselves friendly. 

It is very regrettable that over our lurid press 
there is no government control. This reminds me 
that one evening we could not get the evening 
paper, "Acht Uhr Abendblatt," and discovered 
that, owing to the publication of an incorrect 
article the day before the publication was ordered 
to be discontinued for three days, the paper put 
m prison, so to speak. 

The inflamed attitude of the American press is 
one that is deeply regretted by Americans in Ger- 
many and Germans in America. 

The utter unreasonableness of the fierce attacks 
in the American press, inspired by the French and 
English newspapers on the Germans' method of 
dealing with Belgian franctireurs, and their houses, 
is shown by the proclamation of the Russian Gen- 
eral Rennekampf to the inhabitants of East 
Prussia, issued on August 4th — 

"Any resistance shown by the inhabitants, to the 
Imperial Russian Army will be unsparingly pun- 
ished, and this without distinction of age, or sex. 
Places in which even the slightest attack is made 
upon the Russian army — or in which opposition to 
its orders are shown, will be at once burned to the 
ground." 



82 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The practice against franctireuring has always 
been the same by every Government. Lord Rob- 
erts, in like cases in South Africa, burned and laid 
waste the Boer farms. Even the English 'West- 
minster Gazette" published the letter of a former 
Member of Parliament in which he said — "If the 
civil population of Louvain suddenly fired from 
their houses, on the German soldiers — a just pun- 
ishment must have followed this insane act." 

It is, however, the first step which costs, and 
now that England is bound to uphold the Musco- 
vite and the Jap, she has taken the step which will 
lead her to subterfuges — intrigues, and shameless- 
ness of all kinds, among which malicious falsehood 
will seem but a minor vice. 

(We have been in Berlin since August ist, have 
read the various German papers diligently, and 
have found no derogatory allusions and untrue 
statements referring to England). 

There are those of us who are not Englishmen, 
but of English descent, who have felt hitherto a 
certain pride that such was the case, who have felt 
somehow that England was a land where higher 
principles prevailed than elsewhere, that her great 
past, and her great traditions would not allow her 
to go wrong, that in a special sense, we may say, 
she was a God-fearing land. 

Alas, that has all vanished, and we stand 
stunned and dazed, as one does w^ho hears sud- 
denly of a crime committed by an acquaintance 
and friend, to whom one has been accustomed to 
look up to with respect and trust. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 83 

Germany has not only to contend with the AlHed 
Forces of her many enemies, but with the cam- 
paign of falsehood and misrepresentation organ- 
ized by England. 

All German successes are denied, or repre- 
sented as victories for her enemies, and malicious 
or false statements as to the internal and econom- 
ical conditions now existing in Germany are being 
sown with full hands by the English Government 
and press, to prejudice Germany abroad and espe- 
cially in the United States. 

In the very year in which the United States, on 
account of the opening of the Panama Canal is 
looking forward to a new epoch of peaceful, 
economic conquest, the Japanese have given the 
signal for the rise of the Yellow Race, by the in- 
tended theft of the German Colony of Kiautchou. 

The fatal results will have to be borne by those 
nations of the White Race that are most interested 
in the Pacific Ocean, the Americans and the 
Australians. 

As long as Kiautchou belongs to Germany it 
represents one of the safeguards of a policy, which 
is striving to secure the world's commerce, an open 
door, and an absolute equality of rights to all 
nations in the markets of the Far East. 

Should Kiautchou become Japanese, a policy 
hostile to American interests, the conquest and de- 
struction of China, would be strengthened. It 
becomes clear that Japan and Russia aim at troub- 
ling and weakening China. 



84 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

If Japanese power is allowed to increase in Asia, 
it means not only the principle of Asia for the 
-Asiatics, but also the principle of the Pacific for 
the Japanese. 

England now takes Holland in her mighty- 
grasp, and threatens the Dutch possessions in the 
East, if she does not bow the head and bend the 
knee. But history goes to show that Great Britain, 
has not always been true even to her Allies, which 
Holland knows to her cost, for, about two-hun- 
dred years ago for the sake of base gain England 
betrayed and plundered her Ally, Holland, and 
founded the World Empire on the spoil. 

At the time, that this English policy of perfidy 
and brutal selfishness was inaugurated in Europe 
(euphemistically termed, practical politics), Lord 
Marlborough stated in the English House of 
Lords, "The measures pursued in England for a 
year past are directly contrary to Her Majesty's 
engagement with her Allies, have sullied the 
triumphs of her reign, and will render the name of 
England odious to all other nations !" 

Really the history of the English Dominion is 
a chronicle of monstrous intrigue, a tale of cynical 
violence. 

The spectacle is rendered even more obnoxious 
by England assuming the tone of integrity and 
wrapping herself in the mantle of pious hypocrisy. 

Her thoughts, efforts and endeavors, are spread 
broadcast to conceal aggrandizement under the 
protection of duty and loyalty, while assuming the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 85 

role of defender, of "treaty rights'* which have 
always been disregarded by England whenever 
they stood in her way. 

With unconcealed displeasure and with active and 
jealous envy England has watched Germany and 
her rise these last three years. The same jealousy 
consumes her against America and the Americans. 
The future will reveal it, and will be the curtain- 
raiser ! 

September Sth. The capitulation of Maubeuge 
is announced to-day, the last French fortress at 
the Belgian frontier. Forty-thousand prisoners, 
amongst them five-thousand English, four Gen- 
erals, and four-hundred cannons. Maubeuge is 
near, very near Cambrai, where, one-hundred years 
ago, Waterloo was won by Wellington, through 
the timely aid of Blucher. Cambrai was Welling- 
ton's head-quarters, and around there now victory 
after victory is won by the Germans and what is 
being fought for now has been brooding for one- 
hundred years. 

September i^th. These days are days of wait- 
ing and watching for news. The Germans and 
French are in a death struggle on the borders of 
the Marne. The German Crown Prince is attack- 
ing Verdun. In the East, the Northern Russian 
army has been beaten and pursued. Everyone feels 
the strain for everyone knows the decision of the 
battles of these days will be more or less vital; it 
is really the crisis in this European disease, and 
anxious people, and anxious faces are everywhere. 



86 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Germany goes to war to defend her fireside, her 
long borders and broad frontiers with a clear con- 
science and a clean sword. France has been egged 
on by other powers to seek her revenge for the loss 
of Alsace-Lorraine. "La guerre de revanche." 
Russia, for spoils to pay her French debt and to 
find a way to lay her hand on Constantinople. 
Japan, to weaken China, and for the wedge within 
the lute to make the Western music mute. And 
England, for greed and gain. 

Germany, in her unique geographical position 
and encircled by malice and envy, is a cake, a very 
rich cake, for which the powers are hungry to 
slice up between themselves, each to his liking, and 
each to have a goodly portion. 

If such a catastrophe as this occurs, there will 
be war succeeding wars for years to come; even 
now the prisoners of the Allied Armies quarrel 
between themselves, and General French reported 
to the English Government that he was informed 
too late by the French about the real strength of 
the advancing German army. The French cavalry 
leader General Sordet appeared to be deaf to Gen- 
eral French's urgent messages for help, and French 
officers, complained about the unfitness of the 
English troops to fight in a Continental war. 

The English press comments very severely upon 
the Fall of the Fortress of Namur, so each of the 
Allies makes the other responsible for their defeat 
and if victory comes to the Allies, quarrels over 
defeats will be as nothing compared to quarrels 
over victories. 

It will be a repetition of the story of the Nibe- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 87 

lungenhort, where Fafner and Fasolt fought over 
their partnership spoils. 

England is puffed up with pride. Lord Curzon, 
the former Viceroy of India, declares he hopes to 
see the Lancers of the Bengal cavalry, glittering 
in the streets of Berlin, and dark-skinned Gurkhas 
make themselves comfortable in the Potsdam 
parks, but pride, we are told, in Biblical lore, comes 
before a fall. 

British arrogance shown by the words of the 
national song — ''Rule Britannia, Britannia rules 
the waves," exceeded all bounds, when it went to 
the point of declaring, even grain, contraband of 
war in 1778 and contended that foreign harbors 
could be blockaded, by a single, simple, declaration 
of the British Admiralty. 

- Continental Europe was stirred at the pro- 
cedure; a league was formed in 1780, to protect 
the neutral powers against England and to obtain 
recognition that the neutral flag covers the ship 
and its corgo. 

Thus England's disease of the present day can 
be traced, back to years ago, an inheritance of the 
past, an atavism, a former national malady, it is 
in the blood. 

September lyth. This is the state of things as 
we see them, and the state of war shows Germany 
fighting with determination and self-sacrifice 
against great armies of Russians, never-ceasing 
armies; for where one regiment does down, an- 
other springs up as if by magic. Never ending 
hordes of armed men, to be met, driven back, or 



88 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

conquered, with the result that to-day Germany 
has successfully driven Russians out of East 
Prussia, and the situation on the border is under 
control. 

In Belgium the German flag flies over Brussels 
and the German troops are supposed to be attack- 
ing Antwerp. 

In France there are reports of advances and re- 
treats, of fierce fighting by day and night of great 
losses on both sides, the whole borderland is afire 
and red with blood. 

The end is not yet, and we hear it will be many 
days more before decisive news comes ; already for 
twelve days this battle, of one-hundred and fifty 
kilometers has been going on. 

The German army is guiltless of a tro cities, as is 
testified to, by the joint declaration of American 
war correspondents. These correspondents have 
spent two weeks with the German army, accom- 
panying the German troops hundreds of miles and 
are unable to confirm rumors of the mistreating of 
prisoners, or non-combatants, or discover a single 
case of wanton brutality. This declaration is 
signed by five correspondents of different news- 
papers, consequently our hope for the future 
largely depends upon the victory of German arms. 

Dr. Sven Hedin, the famous explorer stays, as 
guest of the Kaiser at the Head-quarters of the 
German armies in the West. Dr. Hedin has 
received permission to enquire in all reported cases 
of "German atrocities" and to write impartial 
reports on the miltiary situation. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 89 

And another question comes up. Have Depart- 
ments of State, statesmen, diplomats, the pleni- 
potentiaries, the politicians the divine right to form 
"Alliances and Entente" and "secret treaties," 
without consulting the will and the wish of the 
people. The fighting world, the suffering world, 
the innocent world, they who are to give their lives 
and their substance for the fulfilment of these 
documents. 

The great arctic explorer, Nansen, writes: — 
"The responsibility of this war rests with the 
policy of Alliances. The end of one war is the 
beginning of another one, disarmament is empty 
talk. 

"The march through Belgium under breach of 
neutrality was for Germany an iron necessity. 

"Norway's position is not worse than that of 
Belgium, but not better either." 

State-craft, Diplomacy, so often controlled by 
men for personal ambitions, personal revenge, per- 
sonal hatred, how many worlds, how many peoples, 
art thou responsible for and in thy name how 
many crimes committed? 

September lyth. The American President 
stands for the strictest neutrality, the spirit of 
impartiality, straightforwardness, and friendship 
towards all countries concerned. 

"The people of America are descendants of 
many nations which take part in this war — it is 
natural that there should exist the most diverse sym- 
pathies and wishes as regards the ultimate result 



90 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

and circumstances of the conflict. Passions could 
be easily aroused, and America divided into two 
hostile camps, to take part in this war, not in deed 
but opinions, which would hinder the country in its 
great duties as the natoin of peace — as the nation 
which stands aside in the role of impartial mediator, 
and adviser of peace, which neither sits in judg- 
ment over others, but is able and free, to do what 
is honest and disinterested, and truly of service for 
the peace of the world." 

Idealism. What of the peace and for how long 
is it to be America the Silent? 

September 20th. The days go by with only 
vague news or no news at all. 

The silence, the waiting, is terrifying to the 
individual, and to the country at large. 

The battle on the Western border now is two 
weeks old, never ceasing by day or by night. 

In the new warfare, the battle-line is thin and 
long. It is officially stated, however, that these 
battles in France are taking a favorable turn for 
the German army. 

On September nth, Germany's prisoners of 
war numbered two-hundred and twenty-thousand 
and to-day we have been to Doberitz, where three- 
thousand British prisoners are encamped. 

From camp to canteen they are well provided 
for, but if these soldier men are a fair sample of 
England's standing army, then woe to fair Eng- 
land in the field; she can only hope for laurels on 
the water. 

A more consumptive, dejected, ill-conditioned, 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 91 

ill-proportioned lot of men, one could go far to 
see, — no strength, no muscle, no stamina. 

If these three-thousand are a typical showing, 
then the breed is done for. They savor more of 
"les miserables" in Whitechapel than the rank and 
file of an army. 

On the 1 6th September, the German Minister in 
Copenhagen gives out the following news: — 

England fears an attack of Turkey on Egypt. 
The Indian troops, forty to fifty-thousand strong, 
expected since the 25th of August have not 
arrived, cholera or revolution is the reason why. 
It is revolution! So England asks Japan for help 
in India, and Japan replies on the following 
conditions: — 

"A free entry in all the British Colonies in the 
Pacific, a loan of two-hundred million dollars, and 
a free hand in China.'* 

England agrees to these conditions. 

The result of this is that the feeling against 
Russia and England is steadily growing in the 
Chinese Republic, England is accused of letting 
Japan loose against China by the granting of a 
free hand there in exchange for help in India, 
and the hostile feeling against Russia is nourished 
by the order of the Governor of St. Petersburg to 
expel all Chinese merchants from his district dur- 
ing the war. 

It is also stated in Pekin that Japan and Russia 
have signed an agreement by which Japan is to 
occupy Mongolia, and Manchuria. 

In Chinese Government circles, no secret is made 



92 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

of the warm sympathies with Germany and 
Austria which grow stronger day by day. 

News comes from several sources confirming the 
rising of the Egyptians against the British troops 
and the small English forces in the interior had to 
withdraw with heavy losses. 

The Arabs also rise, and gather in thousands to 
prevent the landing of British troops near El 
Arish and Akaba, and this hostile feeling has been 
brought about by the prevention of the return of 
the Khedive, and of the annual pilgrimage to 
Mecca. 

This is the liberty England gives as Protectorate 
in the name of freedom. 

England founded her enormous Colonial Empire 
by force and unscrupulousness, and in the name of 
liberty, she is now treating Egypt as an English 
colony, disregarding international treaties, and her 
own solemn promise, and in the name of liberty, 
the Malay States, one after another, lose their 
independence. 

And the first rent in the British Empire becomes 
visible for the Boers refuse to follow General 
Botha into a war against Germany, and General 
Beyer, the Commander-in-Chief of the South Afri- 
can forces, has tendered his resignation, which was 
accepted by the Government. 

General Delarey has been shot by mistake and 
the whole Boer community are strongly convinced 
that this wanton murder is a parallel to the murder 
of Jean Jaures in Paris. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 93 

But the English are not warriors, they are sports- 
men at their best and bulHes at their worst. 

The *'hand-shake" at Maubeuge was very sports- 
manhke indeed. However, war is no sporting 
event. 

There is no shield, no belt to be won, — this fight 
is for national existence — a price which the Eng- 
lish do not value for they have never had to fight 
for it. 

Their island was always safe, whether Danes, 
Romans, Saxons or Normans invaded and ruled it. 

The whole English nation, with a few excep- 
tions, is unable to grasp the idea of a danger to 
their nationality, whereas centuries of warfare in 
the centre of the European Continent have taught 
Germans to be united, and prepared; otherwise 
they would fall a prey to the hunger for territory 
of other States. 

This is no theory history; it has been demon- 
strated over and over again. 

And the arming and fighting against foreign ene- 
mies has sharpened and quickened the sense of the 
so-called Hun. 

Rudyard Kipling writes: "Wake! for the Hun is 
at the gate!'* 

Is it possible that any one can compare the per- 
fectly disciplined German army, in the ranks of 
which stand thousands of graduates of the noble 
universities of Gottingen, Heidelberg, Leipzig and 
Berlin, to the most barbaric and destructive of the 
races of antiquity? 

The same poet years ago wrote a bitter indict- 



94 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

ment, to warn England against her present ally, 
Russia, to which he likens the latter to "The bear 
that walks like a man." 

The fight in these forty-four years of peace has 
been transferred from the field of battle to the field 
of science, industry and commerce, and the military 
training has not been the least of the factors to- 
wards winning honors in these fields also, as the na- 
tion realized it would have to be again on the battle- 
field to secure the fruits of these labors. 

The German is known over land and sea to do 
things thoroughly, one of the things the Germans 
will do thoroughly, however, is to fight. 

As we view the battle-field to-day, most of the 
crack regiments of Great Britain's army have been 
swept away, and the calling in of Japanese, Indians, 
Hottentots and Kafiirs, in the defence of Christi- 
anity and humanity, against the so-called German 
barbarism is a necessity and speaks for itself. 

England has thrown off the white man's burden, 
and asked colored races to carry a white burden, 
and the Japanese in their new-born alliance, allude 
to the war, against the "white peril," and the Brit- 
ish to the "invasion of the Huns." 

If what is reported from the German Embassy 
at Pekin is true, namely, that Japan promises to 
help England for certain concessions, then the fate 
of the British Empire is sealed. 

This unbelievable, this gigantic war, is to be the 
clearing house of the nations and national values 
will be irrevocably changed. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 95 

September 2^th. A German submarine has 
caught the British fleet napping, U No. 9, com- 
manded by Capt. Otto Weddigen is successful in 
destroying three mighty English cruisers, and all on 
board receive the Iron Cross for this daring deed, 
a pretty brave feather in the cap of the German 
navy. 

Any success that is scored in the navy, is wel- 
comed with joy by the German nation, for their 
fleet is considered so inferior in size and numbers 
to that of the English enemy. 

The battle in France stands the same, a deadlock, 
so to speak. There are advances and repulses on 
both sides and great, great losses, each army 
warily watches for a weak spot in the line of the 
enemy. 

The heel of Achilles, must be uncovered before 
any decisive victory be forthcoming. 

Rheims burning, the cathedral doomed, with its 
wondrous old facade, its glorious colored windows 
of the Christ-life, with softly woven tapestries, and 
its godly shrines doomed, for the French in their 
own land, with their own treasures, play false by 
using the spire as a signal station, after both 
armies' agreement to put the historical old building 
under the protection of the white flag. Thus, a gem 
of France is sacrificed by France's own act, and 
General JofTre is forced to issue an order for 
strong punishment to all French soldiers who rob 
and plunder in their own country, yet Germany's 
enemies, and they are legion, protest against 
criminal acts of German troops. 



96 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

General French, of the British Army, has asked 
for the Victoria Cross, the highest miHtary order in 
England, which is only given for acts of heroism 
on the battle-field for General Smith-Dorrien, who 
has been able to withdraw his army so quickly that 
it only sustained slight losses. Realize it. The 
Victoria Cross for heroic retreat. And Major 
Yat, of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, a prisoner- 
of-war, in Torgau, escapes, but fearing the conse- 
quences of his admission of the use of the Dum- 
Dum by his own soldiers commits suicide. 

As an onlooker in Venice, one must go into the 
addition and subtraction of this various news that 
comes from the border — to arrive at a fair total; 
but figures don't lie, and one so often thinks, "what 
will the world say, or what will the world do," 
about this, that, or the other atrocity or misdeed, or 
damning policy of war dishonesty — and in silent 
dumbfoundedness we realize, there is no world left 
to say, there is no world left to do, as the great 
cause of America's neutrality, as stated by the Pres- 
ident is, that we are every nation at war, we are the 
compressed out-put of all the warring European 
races. We can't, we must not be disintegrated, 
even for the sake of Right or Wrong of other 
nations, even for the great crying cause of 
humanity. 

The only voice loud enough, strong enough, to 
cry out, stop, or, I stop you, the only voice that 
would be listened to, is silent, for we Americans 
have made ourselves, we live to ourselves, we live 
for ourselves, we are wedded and welded together, 







o 

> 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 97 

and we must not be rifted by the disturbances of 
our various forbears. 

So there is left no Court of Appeals ! 

One is very much impressed with the fact demon- 
strated by this European turmoil that all nations 
fear England. 

In America, we shrug our shoulders and speak 
of the proximity of Canada, in Holland they must 
keep and guard their Pacific possessions. 

In Spain there is one thing, and in Scandinavia 
another, and so on, but over all, if one looks deep 
into the very heart of things, one finds, the senti- 
ments of a people may tend this way or that — ^but 
under all, over all, is more or less the fear of Eng- 
land. 

Supreme on land and sea. 

She is a cross old Grand-dame, who threatens 
and who promises. 

Irascible in her will she takes away the sweets 
and thrashes, or she holds out her protection and 
promises as the case may be — but Europe has not 
thrown off the yoke of English fear, so long carried, 
and if America wants to call her soul her own, it 
behooves her to let the Cramp Yards and all the 
other yards ply the anvil and the hammer and let 
the Senate and the House vote and voice unani- 
mously — a bigger — greater Navy. 

Only the beginning of the reflex pains of war 
now come to America over the seas. 

Those who thought that they and their country 
was forever immune from the contagion of battle, 
now realize that one part at least, of our body 



98 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

national, shows symptoms of illness, and a very 
vital part at that. 

A war-tax is to be levied, one-hundred million 
dollars must be raised for the deficit caused by this 
European war. This will wake us rudely from our 
sleeping dreams. 

The tempest across the sea was announced to 
Europeans by long and threatening thunder, but to 
Americans it came as a thunder-bolt from a clear 
sky, and the bolt struck near enough to smell 
sulphur. 

Many of us, I am sorry to admit, have expected 
to watch a European war, as a spectacle, a fero- 
cious, savage, monstrous spectacle, to be sure, 
nevertheless a spectacle. 

Now we are drawn into the picture, and it is 
suddenly brought to our notice, that the modern 
world is bound together by such close ties that a 
blow struck anywhere, makes its effect felt every- 
where. 

So it has not taken long for us to feel the crisis 
by direct experience, the closing of the Stock Ex- 
change, the whole trans-atlantic steam-boat service 
in confusion, mails stopped, freight stopped, pas- 
sengers left where they happen to be, German cables 
cut! Until it all seems a horrible nightmare, the 
whole world is topsy-turvy! 

And there are many other things, mostly un- 
pleasant, that make us aware that the tender threads 
of the great net of international relations cannot 
be broken without making us all feel the effects — 
the rise of prices — the increase of taxes — ^and of 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 99 

many products, we have hardly enough for our own 
needs, and many others must of necessity be im- 
ported, for the one-hundred milHons of humans 
must be fed, and we have not lent a listening ear 
to the urgent voice, so long and insistently calling 
for a merchant marine. 

How strange to have to pay a war tax when we 
are at peace with the whole world; but the loss in 
custom duties alone is about five-hundred millions, 
which has to make good one way or another; but 
neutrality costs something in money, or in blood, 
or both. 

For some time, and in many ways, the United 
States will be the sole provider of the world, but, 
in the meantime, the bills have to be paid. 

And all America, big and little, was making 
ready to spread a great feast, and bid all nations 
come to the City of the Golden Gate. 

These, so far, are the national effects of the 
European war — the personal effects will be many 
and far-reaching. 

October yd. Aachen. We are on the Belgian 
border-line, where one feels the throbbing pulse of 
war, at its highest fever mark. 

The railroad journey from Berlin was wonder- 
fully comfortable and wonderfully interesting. 

The train service is exact. 

Many officers, troops and Red Cross men on 
board, fresh for the front, all quiet and happy, and 
eager to arrive, all so hopeful, all so confident of 
an ultimate success, no matter how hard the work, 
no matter how high the price. 



100 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

It is the law of "ich muss" that governs the in- 
dividual, that governs the nation, that follows, that 
admits of no failures. 

The stubbornness of the German, a trait that we 
often complain of in our playground of personal 
relationship, is in the strife of battle, a telling fac- 
tor of success. 

The German line holds their ground and are 
slowly advancing, they are patiently looking for- 
ward to this long postponed victory. 

The life on the tracks, in the stations, is inter- 
esting in many ways — to look at a people at close 
range in war-time is no mean study. 

There is train after train of troops, they are all 
gay and laughing, smoking, reading papers, writing 
over the cars in broad chalk letters, such amusing 
phrases as — 

Jeder Schuss ein Russ 
Jeder Stoss ein Franzos' 
Jeder Tritt ein Brif 
Jeder Klaps ein Japs 

and calling out "Auf Wiedersehen, hiibsche Schwes- 
ter," and greeting, cheering the out-going, incoming 
trains ! 

And train after train of hospital cars going to 
fetch the wounded. 

Many beds are swung in one car, each car has 
its medical attendant, and a dining car where every- 
thing necessary can be secured. 

And train after train of ammunition, each car 
guarded, and the strange-looking old wooden coun- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 101 

try wagons with their deadly load of explosives, 
are covered with green branches. 

We throw the papers to the soldiers, who tell us 
they have been on the journey some fifty-six hours, 
and are bound "nach Antwerpen," with their 42 
centimeter bombs and all sorts and sizes of mu- 
nition. 

The railway stations are practically in charge of 
the Red Cross, where bright-faced girls dole out 
hot coffee, sandwiches and so forth, not forgetting 
cheery greetings. 

They are so amusing to look at, these soldier 
boys, with their chubby faces, flowers in their 
epaulettes, stuck in their boot-tops, pinned on their 
coats, worn in their caps — at every station a posy 
for good luck, which makes them look like some 
gay cavalcade off for a holiday, instead of troops 
going to face the mouth of the cannon, the ring of 
the shrapnel, the roar of the mortars. 

Aachen, this century old imperial city of the 
Romans, renowned for its sulphur baths, where the 
ancients came for their pains and pleasures, is to- 
day a city of hospitals, nearly every hotel is a La- 
zaret, and the Red Cross flag flies from many a 
window, that has erstwhile looked on the everyday 
scenes of a counting-house, a gay restaurant, com- 
mercial life or private dwellings. 

And the Red Cross Army, the doctors, nurses, 
even dogs that wear the order, and the war-hero 
convalescent, fill the streets, and make up the pass- 
ing throng. 

Motors whizz in and whizz out, great grey army 



102 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

motors, bringing in or taking out their loads of 
officers, motors with the Red Cross which covers the 
whole back of the machine are bringing in the 
wounded, and whole trains of motors leaving for 
the field, packed with love-gifts, Liebesgaben, the 
warm woolen things, cigars, cigarettes, illustrated 
papers, candies, blankets, everything that everybody 
thinks of, for the man fighting for his country, 
aside from the necessary supplies. 

Many of these machines are given and driven by 
their owners, and their mission does not end here, 
for they give quick transport to the sick from the 
field. 

Here in Aachen one is not so much in touch with 
news as in Berlin, but one is more in touch with 
military feeling and sentiment. 

Many a young man comes out of these awful 
battles, battles of machines just as much as battles 
of men, with hair turned grey and body-bent, as 
well as with shot-wounds. 

The terror of modern warfare is stamped on 
every face, the nerve-strain, the body-rack has left 
its trace, but courage of mind and heart is not 
shaken, the one desire is — recovery — to rejoin their 
regiment. 

There are many sad, there are many awful tales 
that are told, and the feeling against England and 
the English runs high. 

In passing through Cologne, we are told on re- 
liable sources, that the English prisoners brought 
there had curved knives in their boots; but one 
could not go so far as to credit it with belief. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 103 

And an officer in the hotel where we are stopping 
objected to the waiter taking our orders in EngHsh, 
and on enquiry, I was told that out of seven-hun- 
dred men he had one-hundred and fifty left owing 
to English troops raising the white flag. His 
soldiers advanced for a truce to receive fire from 
two trenches of armed men. Two wounded pri- 
vates have told us the same story. 

The English then use the white flag, as a decoy 
duck, so to speak, to lead the enemy into the range. 
If we had not been told this personally we could 
have not believed it. 

It only goes to show the result of the English 
militarism of these past years, fighting only with 
savages and half-breeds, upon whom they deemed 
it unnecessary to waste time and ammunition in 
aught but tricky warfare, they have got into the 
habit of it. Dishonest in warfare, as well as dis- 
honest in politics. 

For many years, England has stood as a pedestal 
of virtue, the pedestal is smashed to atoms and 
England lies low in a mire of disgrace. 

October ^th. One month ago to-day the battle 
in France commenced. This has developed into a 
world's game of chess, with pawns of shrapnel and 
granite, and it looks largely as if the victory will 
be to the one who places men and machines to the 
best advantage. 

There is no discouragement in the German offi- 
cer, in the German soldier; the answer is always — 
"Wir miissen siegen" and that ends the question. 

It is this law that runs through the web and 



104 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

woof of their make-up, that makes the strength of 
the German army indomitable. 

All the same, this is a very grave time, a very 
grave anxiety, not only to Germany, but to the 
world at large and many hearts are rent in twain 
by personal losses. 

One's admiration of the German army, of the 
German character, of the German strength and self- 
sacrifice, grows stronger day by day. 

There are many returned invalided from the bat- 
tle-field, who wear the Iron Cross, both old and 
young. 

An aged General, past his three score years and 
ten, proudly wearing the first order, but bent and 
broken after eleven days' battle. 

The young lieutenants who have done and dared 
beyond the dreams of bravery, and the flyers who 
go and know they go almost to certain death, have 
done deeds heroic beyond compare. 

We hear that thirty-eight thousand Iron Crosses 
have been bestowed, but after watching the long, 
slow-moving trains of wounded, creeping through 
wood and dale, every day bringing in their load of 
suffering, dying humanity, when we pass through 
the streets fairly thronged with bandaged men, the 
lame, the halt, the blind, when we think of the dead 
upon the battle-fields, those who are prisoners of 
war and those dragging out weary days on beds of 
sickness, then all the iron in Germany cannot be 
fashioned into a Cross too much, for those who 
have fought in the thick of these battles are one 
and all heroes. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 105 

We feel very much the stranger in this war-far- 
ing city of soldiers, hospitals and what not, and 
never hear a word of our mother-tongue and when 
we hear the sound of American lingo it sounds like 
music to our ears. 

Two men just in from the front in dark, field 
uniforms are American war correspondents. What 
a great thing for Germany that at last there are 
eye-witnesses to tell the tale, to write the story to 
the mis-informed neutral power of America. How- 
ever, a German's word is as good as his bond. He 
may, at times be uncouth, but he is always honest. 
At least, we in America believe this, or we would 
not continue our fast-growing relationship of com- 
merce and cultural intercourse with a dishonest, 
lying, thieving nation. 

We are too careful tradesmen for that. A Ger- 
man statement, even in war times can be relied 
upon, but in face of the gross mis-statements of 
events that one reads, for instance, in the "Daily 
Mair* of London, where calumnies and untruths 
are transmitted by cable and otherwise over the At- 
lantic, it is a very good thing for Germany and for 
the future opinions of all nations and especially the 
United States that American war correspondents 
are now to be allowed to be for a time, at least, 
with the German army. 

They come in an absolutely neutral spirit, as 
strict non-partisans and if there is any shadow of 
feeling to be detected, one way or another, it is the 
shadow of Western opinion opposed to Germany, 
concurred by journalistic misrepresentation. But 



106 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

at least, they come with keen eyes and quick ears 
to learn the truth, to send home the truth, and if 
there is anything condemnatory to the country and 
to the warfare of the Kaiser, it will fairly fly over 
the cables to inform all America. 

So far, Mr. Cobb and Mr. McCutcheon have 
been twice in Belgium with the army, in Louvain 
for four days and have just returned from the 
battle-front in France and are unable to report a 
single case of atrocity, cruelty, drunkenness, or any 
kind of disorder; they speak most highly of the 
strictness, discipline, and humanity of the German 
officers and men, their endurance, fortitude, devo- 
tion to their cause, and never failing courage. 

In Maubeuge they found a depot of Dum-Dums 
of French manufacture, where sixty-thousand cart- 
ridges were stored in sealed boxes bearing the man- 
ufacturers' name, year 191 3, also the model of 1908 
and on an outside wrapper the destination. We 
have seen the original photograph of the depot and 
further, have seen the original photograph of 
wounds made by the Dum-Dum shot. 

The two photographs were of leg wounds and of 
thigh wounds, on German soldiers taken in the field 
hospitals. At the entrance of the shot, the wound 
is not bigger than the top of a little finger, and 
where it comes out, one could easily put a fist in 
the jagged hole. What a pity these correspondents 
were not in Louvain on the 25th of August to give 
the lie to the oath that the Belgian Commission sent 
to President Wilson. 

We hear that in America there is a great wave 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 107 

of indignation all over the country against the 
Kaiser, who is supposed to be the cause of this 
bloody, death-dealing conflict. 

The Kaiser, in the land of the Stars and Stripes 
has long been represented as a picturesque war fig- 
ure — the War Lord — who followed the call of the 
trumpet for gain and glory, a military poseur, 
whose devouring ambition was to be reckoned as a 
modern Frederick the Great, or Napoleon come to 
victory, who loves the distraction^ of the waving 
helmet, clink of sword, and the glittering trappings 
of battle array, who is willing to sacrifice the pre- 
cious lives of his subjects and to bring dire distress 
and destruction to all nations, simply to satisfy, the 
over-weening love of a Conqueror, to ride victori- 
ously at the head of a victorious army through the 
Brandenburger Tor, over rivers of blood. 

One is sorry to admit that this is more or less, 
and decidedly more, the popular repute of the 
Kaiser in our Western hemisphere. 

As a matter of fact — War Lord — the misnomer 
which we have translated to mean the very Lord 
of War is from "Kriegsherr" meaning the leader 
of the Army and Navy by constitutional right, the 
same right as is held by the King of England and 
the President of the United States. 

If the Kaiser really wanted war, why did he 
allow the opportunity to pass, to strike, when he 
could have done so more conveniently than to- 
day? 

During the twenty-six years of his reign, the 
German Emperor has succeeded in keeping the Eu- 



108 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

ropean peace. Carnegie, our advocate of world 
peace, only a few months ago paid this so-called 
War Lord a great tribute in the name of the lovers 
of peace, a tribute to his peace work; so that for 
Americans to state now, that His Majesty wanted 
war, only to wear the laurels of ambition for him- 
self, is a very great injustice. 

If he had wanted to draw the sword, he has 
often had opportunity and opportunities, which 
could have been much more favorable for him than 
the present situation. 

When the Russian Empire was at war with 
Japan, the Kaiser was ten years younger and Ger- 
many covered the back of the Russian forces and 
ten years after his coming to the throne the Drey- 
fus affair in France gave the war-chance if there 
had been a wish to seize it through the accusation 
that Germany was playing her hand in this game. 

Then came the Boer war, when Germany turned 
a deaf ear to the call of the Russians and the 
French. France was up in arms about Fashoda 
and urged Germany to attack Great Britain while 
she was engaged in war in South Africa. 

Did the Kaiser move? Did the Kaiser strike? 
Or did he keep the peace? 

The Agadir incident offered war, if war had 
been so eagerly wanted; but the Kaiser stood firm 
as a rock of peace against the storm of war clouds 
that darkly threatened. 

He not only hated war, but avoided every chance 
for a war. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 109 

In Brussels, since the German occupation many 
important documents have been found, which bring 
convincing evidence that Belgium also, for several 
years, has been partner of this plot, that King Al- 
bert had sacrificed the so-called neutrality of his 
coimtry to British ambitions and arrangements and 
by an official statement we learn that the arrange- 
ment for the landing of British troops on the Bel- 
gium and French coast and their transportation to 
the German border have been perfected in every 
detail, more than a year ago — all ready for the 
signal come in what form or face it may. 

Germany has reached the decisive point of her 
life. She must be grandly, gloriously victorious 
over the hydra-headed enemy, she must reign 
supreme in Europe, by force of might and right 
and end these attacks of war which sap her life- 
strength and for ever keep up a European turmoil, 
or Germany the Vanquished, will revert to her 
former Kingdom, State of small powers, and small 
principalities and in the future be of no national 
account on sea and land. 

The U. S. and Germany, two nations of different 
languages, but practically the same ethics, must 
know one another better. Every barrier that is in 
the way of a common meeting ground should be 
hastily done away with, for at no distant day, the 
greatest nation of the Western hemisphere, and 
this Teuton nation of Europe, holding to the same 
tenets of national honesty, law and morality, the 
only two great powers left in the world not allied 
with the Muscovite, the Yellow Race, the weak. 



110 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

decadent Latin, may be drawn together against a 
common foe. 

Germans and Americans for the most part know- 
one another only in a commercial world, in the 
trading circles. 

We bring over their rarest song-birds and tal- 
ented orchestra-leaders, and present Wagner as it 
is done nowhere else and are coming to the meeting 
of the ways in literature, by the interchange of uni- 
versity professors and in science and medicine, we 
are more or less, borrowing literally from the 
Germans. 

Outside of diplomatic circles in Washington, one 
rarely meets a German in America, not counting 
the German-resident in business. 

The class of German men corresponding to that 
of the English gentleman, the British peer, rarely 
crosses the Atlantic, for this class in Germany are 
all officers of the army, who seldom leave their 
country and consequently are an unknown quantity 
to the man in the States. 

Our women seldom meet. The German is told 
her American sister is a pretty doll, petted and 
pampered, ignorant and purse-proud and in 
America we think only of German feminity as the 
trained Hausfrau, with her counting-book, taught 
in the ways of thrift and homely virtues; but the 
graces of womanhood as far beyond her as her 
frills and furbelows. 

Our politicians and men of affairs rarely clasp 
hands across the sea in spite of the efforts of the 
Emperor and some influential Americans. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 111 

We have no common meeting ground for sports, 
in racing, yachting, polo, horse-shows and so forth 
and so to speak, the German world, and the Ameri- 
can world, are strangers, one to another, except in 
the counting-house. 

Americans seldom travel in Germany. They go 
to the Spas, the cures, and then are off to enjoy 
the joys and pleasures of their regained health on 
the play-grounds of England and France. 

So, on the whole, when we sum it up we have 
hardly a bowing acquaintance with the Germans 
and we are very apt to believe what we are told, 
or what we see in print and really don't care very 
much whether we do or not. 

Now, it behooves us to care. America must 
watch with a keen eye, the development of these 
wars, and lend an understanding mind and be on 
guard for the whole world is in danger, and who 
knows but sooner or later America and Germany 
may be jointly called to share the responsibility of 
the new order of things terrestrial and it may also 
be that only these two countries together can swing 
back the balance of the world. 

October gtk Antwerp has fallen after a twelve 
days' siege, General Beseler and his army have 
entered in. 

On the 28th of September the first shot was fired 
and on the 7th of October, according to the rules 
of The Hague Convention, the bombardment of 
the town was announced. 

Too loath to lead her own flesh and blood in this 



112 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

war, showing the desperate lengths to which she is 
reduced by calHng the Asiatic and Muscovite 
for aid — whom her own Colonies Canada and 
Australia, are unwilling to have within their bor- 
ders, too brutal to consider human feelings, Eng- 
land leads Belgians, as well as Indians to the 
slaughter house and deeds of horror have accom- 
panied this breakdown of the Belgian country 
which called to the heavens for revenge. 

The Belgian King was inclined to hand over 
Antwerp, but England said "No." England took 
command of the harbour and destroyed German 
vessels. Antwerp, therefore, is a victim of English 
brutality and selfishness, with Grey and Churchill 
as the guilty parties, the Lord High Executioners, 
for after the brave defence the surrender of the 
town of Antwerp would not have spelt disgrace to 
the Belgians and the catastrophe of Antwerp will 
remain for ever in British history a monument 
of shame, a warning example to nations to put not 
their faith and trust in England. 

On Great Britain's shoulders rests the responsi- 
bility that the most beautiful and prosperous town 
of the Belgians, the home of Rubens, and the his- 
toric Plantain Museum, has been exposed to bom- 
bardment and fire. 

The punishment fits the crime, and Antwerp 
with its treasure-trove bows the head and bends the 
knee to German arms. 

Brialmont's proud fortress could not resist the 
German mortars any longer. 

The heathen may rage and the British imagine 




The Czar of Russia and the EngHsh King 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 113 

vain things, but the mills of the gods grind slowly 
but they grind exceeding small. 

Nothing that has happened since August ist can 
be compared to the taking of Antwerp and its con- 
sequences. 

By this, the entire conquest of Belgium has be- 
come a fact and Befgium falls as the first victim 
of Sir Edward Grey, the executor of the will of 
Edward the VII. 

It also proves the fact that the Germans have 
studied the war on fortresses better than any other 
nation. 

Destruction for the time is greater than construc- 
tion, and with this in mind they have turned their 
science and skill to the 42 cm. gun and other 
strange and terrible weapons. 

The art of fortification has not kept the same 
pace as the development of artillery, which is 
proved by the present war and which has consid- 
erably shaken and shattered the confidence in all 
kinds of fortification. 

Like the walls of Jerusalem, they stand as a 
picturesque picture of ancient times and ancient 
warfare. 

October I2,th. The rumors that have been cur- 
rent of Belgium's double dealing are ofificially con- 
firmed to-day by the Government Gazette namely: 
that the German military authorities since the occu- 
pation of Brussels have found in the captured 
archives of the Belgian war office most important 
documents, proving beyond question, the fact, that 



114 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

there existed a military and naval convention be- 
tween Belgium and the Powers of the Entente. 

The captured state papers, now in possession of 
the German Government in BerHn, are convincing 
and condemnatory, beyond any shadow of doubt. 

The contents of a "dossier" bearing the inscrip- 
tion "Intervention anglaise en Belgique" states 
clearly that as far back as 1906, the plan was per- 
fected to send the British Expeditionary Force 
into Belgium in the case of a Franco-German war. 

In a letter of the Chief-of-Staf¥ of Belgium to 
the Secretary of War, dated April loth, 1906, he 
writes: "That after repeated sessions, repeated 
interviews and consultations with Lieutenant- 
Colonel Bamardiston, the British Military Attache 
in Brussels, he has upon his request, brought to a 
conclusion a detailed, military plan of joint opera- 
tions, consisting of a British Expeditionary Force 
of one-hundred thousand men, with the Belgians 
against Germany. 

This plan was agreed to by the British Chief-of- 
Staff, Major-General Grierson. 

Whereupon the Belgian General-of-Staff was 
then furnished all details as to the strength and 
the systematical placing and arrangement of the 
British troops, all information as to the intended 
harbors of embarkation, time-tables for transporta- 
tion of troops, supplies and so forth, and upon the 
basis of this information the Belgian General-Staff 
prepared and perfected the plan of campaign to 
the veriest detail, including the transportation of 
British troops into the Belgian zone of concen- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 115 

tration, also the arrangement for interpreters to 
accompany the British army, the care of their 
wounded, and the arrangement for Belgian gen- 
darmes to be placed at their disposal. 

The joint working of the two armies was thus 
studiously, minutely planned, and had gone so far 
in completion. 

As Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne are named as 
the harbors of landing for the British troops, 
it becomes clear that also the French railroads must 
be used, consequently the French General Staff 
must also have agreed to this procedure. 

The three powers have drawn their plans to- 
gether and the documents speak quite plainly of 
the "Allied Armies.'' 

A map of the French concentration is found and 
Colonel Barnardiston regrets that it is impossible 
to count upon Holland's help and connivance and 
communicates confidentially the intention of the 
British Government to make Antwerp the base of 
supplies for the British troops, as soon as all Ger- 
man men-of-war have been swept off the North 
Sea and directs Belgium to create an espionage 
service in the Rhine provinces. 

The secret material also contains a report of 
Baron Greindl — for many years, the Belgian Min- 
ister in Berlin. 

The plan of the combined General Staffs has 
come to his knowledge and on the 23rd December, 
191 1, he makes a sharp criticism of Great Britain's 
naive and perfidious offers. 



116 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

So the contents of all these secret documents 
given to-day by the press to the people prove that 
the information in the hand of German authorities 
about this plot, was not far wrong, but very right 
and is a complete explanation and justification of 
Germany's military behavior on the first days of 
August. 

This publication of secret documents will be an 
eye-opener for the Belgian people and to all the 
neutral powers and will proclaim to one and all the 
villain in the plot, and to whom Belgium is indebted 
for the enormous catastrophe which it has under- 
gone. 

So, at last, proof is in the hands of Germany 
that Belgium became a secret Ally of the Entente. 

But what a strange coincidence, that on the very 
same day, the 12th of October, the day on which 
the German Government published part of the 
discovered documents, the London Times, in igno- 
rance of these discoveries, published the follow- 
ing: — "Neutrality was a fateful gift for Belgium." 
It prevented her from negotiating any kind of 
military or other treaties and making agreements 
to secure the rapid and decisive help of her English 
friends. 

The English and Belgian Staff could make no 
suitable plans for military preparations, troop 
transports. Railway, Commissary service, etc., with- 
out considering the matter as strictly violating 
neutrality. 

Sir Edward Grey's speech of August 3rd, 1914, 
denies that England is under any obligation to 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 117 

France; but admits that since 1906 a military and 
naval convention has existed between them. 

And of such is the book of revelations whiclTis 
given us to read. 

October 14th. If one could be in Rotterdam or 
Rosendaal these days, what a panorama of tragedy 
could be seen. 

Thirty-thousand British, French and Belgian 
soldiers, and three-hundred thousand refugees of 
all classes, from point-lace and diamonds to the 
homely homespun, soldiers and civilians, bankers 
and beggars, sane and insane, all fleeing, flying, by 
train and wagon, on foot, anyway, anyhow, with 
possessions, without possessions, a flight out of 
Antwerp from the incoming German army. 

Save about forty-thousand inhabitants, Antwerp 
is deserted, only hungry dogs left to feed off dead 
horse-flesh. 

The raging fires caused by the Belgians igniting 
petroleum tanks are being extinguished by German 
soldiers and Antwerp is saved. 

The Belgian prisoners complain very much of 
the English. For instance, the Commandant of 
Antwerp, then an Englishman, had assured the 
citizens that they would have an English army of 
one-hundred and twenty-thousand men (which 
should have arrived eight days earlier) but when 
it came, it consisted of barely twenty-five thousand 
and not the Belgians, but the English first took 
flight when the powerful German mortars knocked 
down one fort after the other. 



118 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The Belgian fugitives in Holland are being en- 
treated to return, not only by the German officials 
but by the small band of Belgian inhabitants who 
have remained and find the German occupation far 
from a fearful thing. 

The one and only thing the British accomplished 
was the destruction of provisions valued at two- 
hundred million francs, without the permission of 
the Belgian authorities. 

But the City of Antwerp, lying so proudly by the 
deep, broad Scheldt, one of the strongest fortresses 
in the world, one of the greatest seaports in Eu- 
rope and the principal arsenal of the Kingdom of 
Belgium, is rescued from destruction of shot and 
shell. 

Stamped with its mediaeval prosperity, adorned 
by its magnificent cathedral, on the walls of which 
hang Rubens far-famed winged picture of the **De- 
scent from the Cross," rich in its possession of 
the masterpieces of art, Antwerp is saved! 

Aachen, October i^th. In the beautiful Aachen 
Stadtwald which circles this old, imperial city, 
where pine and beech are such close neighbors that 
the sun's rays rarely break through, on a high knoll 
in the clearing, stands the Bismarck Tower. Hewn 
of rough stone, rising high and bold, with bas re- 
liefs of Bismarck, Moltke and Roon, it holds aloft 
a crowned-formed crate in which a great bon-fire 
burns on Bismarck's birthday. 

These Bismarck towers are all over Germany. 
In this way the Germans burn incense to his mem- 
ory on his fete-day and it is opposite here, in the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 119 

deeps of the pines, where they are laying their 
heroes to rest. 

It is very touching this new-begun soldier city 
of the dead. Three times a week funerals of not 
less than sixteen, those dying of wounds in Aachen. 

This is Catholic Germany and in the waning twi- 
light of these gold October days, these crowds of 
grief -bo wed people go homeward through the silent 
pinewoods chanting their "Ave Marias.*' 

But it makes but scant difference if one wanders 
to the right or to the left out of Aachen, or through 
the ancient city gate, at every turn and corner there 
are signs and traces of war. From afar one sees 
the wounded being brought in and the prisoners, a 
motely crowd of Sengalese, Zouaves, English and 
so forth, all treated with good temper by the Ger- 
man soldiers, who break bread with them, and offer 
them cigarettes; for they are all comrades in arms, 
each, no matter the race, fighting for his country. 

And we drive into the borderland of four coun- 
tries where Holland, Germany, Belgium and Mor- 
esnet join lands and even venture across, the 
Belgium frontier and go into Gimmelbach, the 
beginning of the franctireur district, where the 
first disturbances occurred. 

It is such a pretty, peaceful little village in its 
setting of green hills and green meadows, it is hard 
to realize that tragedy has written a blood-red 
chapter across its pages. 

There are the signs that tell the story, houses 
where they first fired on the German troops are 
razed to the ground and notices of warning to the 



120 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

inhabitants, posted on the outside walls by the 
Commander of the passing army. At this time, in 
one room three hostages are held, the best known 
men of the village and at the breaking of the law 
by any one citizen, their lives are a sacrifice. 

Summary justice! 

We hear plainly the firing, they are trying the 
new guns at Liittich, and on this road the army has 
passed and the road is rutted and broken. 

The Landsturm guards are all good-humored and 
have made themselves huts of leaves and thickets, 
for the protection against the early frost ; one is an 
acrobat by trade and has his trained dog with him 
who affords much amusement and is just as serious 
in doing good guard work as his master. 

On the other side of Aachen nestled in hill and 
valley is the St. Rafael Hospital with its black- 
robed sisters of sainted lives and sainted faces, 
nursing the wounded, caring for the dying. 

The life of Aachen so varied, but always of war 
— to the war, from the war, will never be forgot- 
ten. It leaves sad but brave memories of Germany, 
and Germany's warrior sons. 

Berlin, October 2ist. Back to Berlin we find the 
dark, dreary days have come, the saddest of the 
year; the trees are nude of their green, the fore- 
runner of winter is in the air; there is a touch of 
color in the autumn chrysanthems that adorn the 
public squares, and in the heather-ladened window- 
boxes of the avenues ; but there is the darkness of a 
German autumn; and the darkness of a German 
war over all. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 121 

The battles on the French border and in France 
are as strenuous and stubborn as ever. 

The entrenched soldiers on both sides have been 
enduring the fighting for weeks, without practically 
a marked change of position. 

There is little progress one side or another, ad- 
vance, repulse, repulse, advance, is the daily chron- 
icle, and the week's record, though the Germans 
believe they are slowly gaining. 

The French have the great advantage of fighting 
in their own country, where every inch and hill and 
cranny of the "terrain" is known and the great 
advantage also of the help of their civilian country 
population, this combined help must be very, very 
great, and very saving in man and machines to the 
French army. 

In looking ahead there seems to be no time limit 
in the battle arena. 

What throw of the dice will win this game of 
war no one knows, a re-enforcement of numbers, 
endurance, some new strategy or what; but this 
strain on all countries, on all people is very, very 
great. 

In the East the German army advances towards 
Warsaw. 

The German Officials in Antwerp urge the 
refugees to return and take up their former life 
under the protection of the German Government. 

The German army pushes on through Ostend to- 
wards Dunkirk. Here one dreads to think what 
the battles will be. England is putting forth all her 
forces on sea and land to guard the French Coast. 



122 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Germany is absolutely dauntless in her onward 
march, in her onslaughts. 

This will be the fiercest struggle that has ever 
been seen in the world's history, the extermination, 
the sacrifice, of hoards and hosts of armored men, 
will go on, day by day, night by night, never ceas- 
ing until Germany conquers, or is conquered. 

Although their losses are enormous the Germans 
are not dismayed or discouraged, they believe in 
their supremacy on land, they believe in their ulti- 
mate victory, they believe in the right of their cause, 
and defence of their country; they possess the faith 
that removes mountains. 

As a people, as a populace, they show great 
strength of character, they wait patiently, they suf- 
fer silently, they go on their way bravely, there are 
no hysterics of victory, there are no hysterics of 
losses. 

They work in millions of w^ays in the cities, to 
aid the millions of men in the field. 

Even those who are not in sympathy with this 
country or its people, are in great admiration of 
Germany and the Germans, under the stress of war. 

The gigantic, far-spreading work of war is a 
potent portion for their suffering, and to add to this 
they have now three-hundred thousand prisoners to 
care for, including three Belgian, six French and 
eighteen Russian Generals. 

We hear the English have lost several Corps 
Commanders, amongst them, Herbert Hamilton, the 
General who started his military career as a ranker, 
and also that there is quite a campaign in London 



WAR DIARY OK AN AMERICAN WOMAN 123 

against Winston-Churchill, the First Lord of the 
Admiralty. 

Neither the First Lord, nor the First Sea-Lord, 
Prince Battenberg, nor the combination of the two, 
convinces the nation, that the navy is led by the 
best of talents. If Winston-Churchill remains in 
the Admiralty, his activities must be restricted to 
his own duties. 

The fact remains that eight-thousand untrained 
men were sent to Antwerp to defend the city 
against the trained forces of Germans. 

The English marines were turned into artillerists 
in the short space of a few days and one even with 
the slightest military experience, could foresee the 
failure of such an undertaking. 

When the German artillery fire set in, the men 
had to leave the guns where they were and the 
retreating English were so hard-pressed they did 
not stop until they had reached Ostend. 

Now the battle is for the control of the Channel 
Coast. 

The fight is raging round Ypres where the Allies 
have brought powerful reinforcements. 

The English warships bombarded Ostend and 
will doubtless play their part now. 

Official reports state, one-hundred and sixty- 
thousand Japanese are landed at Danij, on the Yel- 
low Sea, to be transported to German and Austrian 
frontiers, twenty-thousand on their way to India to 
take the place of the Indian troops which have been 
sent to France and may also be used against Turkey, 
should the Sublime Porte cast her lot with Ger- 



124 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

man and Austria, and one-hundred thousand held 
in readiness for Russia and France. 

So Japan is admitted to the battles and confer- 
ence of things European. 

European preference in the East has thereby been 
sacrificed, and the gates thrown open to the Yellow 
danger. 

Not content with this, barbarian and semi-bar- 
barian mobs, are imported to let loose on a civilized 
European nation. 

Truly, the English Government has done more 
harm to the cause of Christianity by taking up arms 
against the German people than can be repaired by 
centuries of missionary efforts and millions of mis- 
sionary gifts. 

And when one thinks and says that England has 
committed a sin against civilization one merely re- 
peats an expression used some months ago by Lord 
Haldane himself in a protest against this war that 
has been signed and issued by some of the noblest 
of English scholars and public men. 

It is very difficult to believe and realize that these 
events are world's facts to-day. 

England's foresight and fore-thought has created 
a French Gibralter. 

For two years England has rented grounds and 
buildings in Havre, and for two years has been 
garrisoning five-thousand men there with a Dread- 
nought station in Havre harbor. 

This is only the beginning. England wants a 
station on the Continental coast from which to 
rule the channel. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 125 

It is the same method which was employed when 
England occupied the Rock of Gibralter. 

England is powerful in her diplomacy, she out- 
ranks all powers in this subtle game. 

Her diplomacy is supreme and has been since the 
Elizabethan age. 

October iSth. The time has come for us to 
leave Germany, after three months of war-time, in 
which we have seen the country, her sons and her 
sons' sons fighting so bravely and her daughters 
living so self-sacrificingly. 

The most salient feature of the German nation 
during the throes of the present time, has been the 
absolute unanimity of judgment, purpose and spirit, 
that characterizes every class, rank and calling. 

The losses are great, but according to their code, 
the life of the soldiers, battalions and army corps 
and the life of the individual counts not in com- 
parison to the life of the nation. 

The state out-lives the individual. 

Generation after generation die and disappear, 
but the country must live on to develop into great- 
ness and power and for the protection and prestige 
of their Fatherland, they are brought up and live in 
the belief that they must aim, work, sacrifice and 
die, for the greatness of the Empire. 

This training and belief produces a race like the 
Spartans of old, they are taught and trained to en- 
dure; it makes a country stronger than the strong 
protection of walls and ramparts. 

But every big character has small faults ; so with 



126 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

nations, and the war whatever the decision may be 
will revolutionize many things in Germany. 

That is most decidedly the ''handwriting on the 
wall." 

There is much prejudice and class feeling to be 
overcome, much narrowness, much mediccvalism in 
form and feature of social life that to the onlooker 
seems stage-play and makes of these people a dif- 
ferent people from the rest of the world. 

It comes from living in a room with the door 
locked and bolted ; few go out, fewer come in ! 

Consequently they are demode in their views of 
life, and he who thinks differently, acts differently, 
who becomes free from the bondage of ancient 
ideas, customs and prejudices, he who goes among 
other worlds, other peoples, is condemned by the 
old; he has flown the nest. 

Two traits stand out, they are naturally sus- 
picious and hyper-sensitive. All this is most regret- 
table, for it shuts out much understanding, much 
intercourse to those who are not "we Germans." 

But with such a Kaiser, such a virile, vital race, 
such an army, which is the bone and sinew of the 
Empire, and such a navy, everything can be done 
and one has only sympathy and admiration for this 
magnificently disciplined and cultured nation, facing 
North, South, East, West, to repel its foes on land 
and sea. 

There are many who think and believe that the 
situation involves nothing less than the reshaping 
of Europe by Teutonic hands. 

It is a new European Empire swinging into 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 127 

being and if Europe doesn't like it, Europe will 
have to fight over the matter for years to come; 
for German ascendancy seems as inevitable as sun- 
rise to-morrow. 

There are many, too, who think that while the 
cost seems fearful and wholly unnecessary, yet old 
Europe is no more. 

The Europe of the future will be a freer, a more 
released, a more democratic Europe, which is the 
only sheen of light in the fearful darkness which 
now falls upon Europe. 

But, finally, as to the outcome not much can yet 
be said as there is nothing so idle as prophecy. 

One of our great American professors, who 
knows Germany and the European situation from 
long years of study and experience, writes: 
"Whether the Giant of Middle Europe will be able 
to break the bonds which in the last ten years have 
been wound about him, and under whose smarting 
cut he is now writhing or, whether the fetters will 
be rivetted together cannot easily be fore-told. 

But assuming the one or the other, we may spec- 
ulate with some degree of accuracy regarding the 
political situation which will result. 

The triumph of Germany-Austro-Hungary can 
never be so complete as to make any changes in the 
present map of Europe. 

All that could effect would be the momentary 
abandonment of the Russian Pan-Slavic program, 
the relegation to dormancy of the French 
"Revanche*' and the stay of Great Britain's hand 
from the destruction of German commerce. On 



128 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

the other hand, the triumph of Great Britain-Rus- 
sia-France, cannot fail to give Russia the mastery 
of the Continent of Europe, and restore Great 
Britain to her sovereignty over the seas. These 
two great powers, who now already between them 
possess almost the half of the whole world, would 
then, indeed, control the destinies of the earth. 

Well may we draw back in dismay before such a 
consummation. The "rattle of the sabre" would 
then be music to our ears in comparison with the 
crack of the Kossack's knout and the clanking of 
Siberian chains, while the burden of taxation which 
we would be obliged to suffer in order to create and 
maintain the vast navy, and army necessary for the 
defence of our territory and commerce throughout 
the world against these gigantic powers, with their 
oriental Ally, Japan, would sap our wealth, en- 
danger our prosperity, and threaten the very exist- 
ence of republican institutions. 

This is no time for shallow thought or flippant 
speech. In a public sense it is the most serious mo- 
ment of our lives. Let us not be swayed in our 
judgment by prejudice or minor considerations. 
Men and women like ourselves are suffering and 
dying for what they believe to be the right, and the 
world is in tears. Let us wait and watch patiently, 
and hope sincerely that all this agony is a great 
labor-pain of history and that there shall be born 
through it a new era of prosperity, happiness and 
righteousness for all mankind." 

All the help that in the small way, as strangers, 
we have been able to give, is not the tithe of what 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 129 

we wanted to give and with regret and reluctance, 
we go away from Germany's capital and Germany's 
people. 

We can only wish and hope that yet some unseen, 
some unknown power, will pour oil on these 
troubled European waters and that sooner than we 
think or hope, there may be Peace. 

The Hague, October 2^th. We have come from 
a country at war to a country in peace. 

The change is impressive. No grey army motors. 
Red Cross nurses, wounded on stretchers and the 
military from the sunrise to the starlight. 

Just peace over the dunes, over the flat green 
landscape, over the people! 

The realm of Queen Wilhelmina, so rich and far 
spreading in its Colonies, so prosperous and peace- 
ful at home, with its windmills and saboted people, 
stands firm, in its neutrality, holds out helping 
hands to all refugees, of all nations, opens her heart 
and her purse and accepts no recompense. 

Holland is unique ! 

The Hague has been the centre of the most im- 
portant diplomatic transactions in the world. 

The time has long faded into the past when Hol- 
land was counted among the great powers — when 
her Fleet swept the North Sea with a broom at the 
mast-head. 

But Holland has remained great as a land of 
science and art, as a land, too, of ideas, and this 
has led to The Hague being chosen as a place of 
meeting for the first Peace Conference. 

In the stately pleasure palace in the House of 



130 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Orange, Het Huis ten Bosch, The House in the 
Wood, representatives of all countries met on the 
initiative of Czar Nicholas of Russia, in the sum- 
mer of 1898 and there the foundations were laid 
for further discussion, there the permanent Court 
of Arbitration was founded. 

The first step to realizing the Beautiful Ideal was 
taken when the Czar of all the Russias made his 
appeal to the Emperors, Kings and Presidents of 
the Old and New Worlds. 

Hope which lay slumbering in many hearts was 
awakened after this first conference, which was at 
first only a vague passing thing, passing before the 
eyes. 

Then it was that Andrew Carnegie gave a great 
fillip to the movement. 

On the Scheveningen road, by his gift, stands the 
imposing Palace of Peace — the International Court 
of Arbitration — a library of the law of nations. 

The copy of the Act of Donation signed on the 
7th of October, 1903, at the Castle Skibo in Scot- 
land reads as follows: 

"Believing that the establishment of a permanent 
Court of Arbitration by the Treaty of the 29th 
July, 1899, is the most important step forward of a 
world-wide humanitarian character, which has ever 
been taken by the Joint Powers — as it must ulti- 
mately banish war — I, Andrew Carnegie, of the City 
of New York, am willing to furnish the sum of one 
and a half million dollars, for the said purpose, 
which sum has been placed at the disposal of the 
Netherlands Government." 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 131 

When one stands before this "Court of the Peo- 
ples of the Earth," on the edge of the Dunes of 
this continuously reclaimed land of Holland — the 
gift of one born in the Scottish Highlands — the 
plan of an architect from Lille ; where to-day many 
nations are struggling in deadliest strife around the 
citadel which is supposed to be Vauban's master- 
piece — then this brave pile of stone, finished but 
a year ago, the house of the permanent Court of 
Arbitration, which is ultimately to banish war, 
stands as a tragedy and travesty to the ken of 
human sight. 

Every country has sent a gift to the Peace 
Palace, and in view of war history and war events 
of the present day, it is very strange to pause and 
ponder! 

The great monumental gates which close the 
broad avenues are from Germany — they bear the 
emblems of the scales which Justice holds and the 
Gordian knot which Alexander once severed to 
solve the riddle — and the entrance doors of wrought 
iron and the bronze inner doors are presented by 
Belgium, admitting to the vestibule, which leads to 
the grand staircase, lit by gilded candelabra, Aus- 
tria's gift — and the grand staircase itself comes 
from The Hague. 

Immediately above the main entrance stands a 
statue of Peace sheathing the sword of war. 

And it IS as if out of the dark foliage which 
surrounds the open space, that something very light 
and very fine, has stepped into the open — just as if 



132 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

universal peace, after dark centuries of sanguinary 
strife will come ! 

The first stone was laid by Baron Nelidoff, the 
Russian Ambassador, and bears the inscription 
"The generosity of Andrew Carnegie has delegated 
this house of Peace to be maintained by Justice." 

But all the treaties of peace — all the peace com- 
pacts and contracts that can ever be written — all 
the Peace Palaces that can ever be built — can never 
banish war. 

There will be always, War and Rumors of War. 

It has been from the Beginning. 

It will be to the end. 

We find people of all classes — of all races in this 
capital city of the Netherlands — a great number of 
Russians and Belgians, and diplomats from every- 
where — a mosaic of humanity — a mosaic of in- 
terest ! 

Seven-hundred thousand Belgian refugees have 
sought and found an asylum here — thirty-thousand 
military are interned. 

So the Dutch are housing and feeding consider- 
ably more than one-tenth of their own numbers. 

England offers six-hundred thousand florins as a 
contribution towards the maintenance of the Bel- 
gian refugees, but the Netherlands Government re- 
fuses this proffered aid. 

Those wise men of Holland do not wish their 
country to be trammelled with the gratitude of a 
gift. 

Their state is that of neutrality — ^their cause that 
of humanity! 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 133 

They are strictly neutral, independent, wise, cau- 
tious and kind. 

This is Holland to-day. 

Neutrality in time of war does not imply that 
one must be without political judgment, or political 
interest, or political decision, but it does mean, that 
the neutral nation, during the course of the war, 
neither injures nor assists any of the combatants 
from a military stand-point. 

And Holland guards her neutrality well! 

We get papers from all countries, and from this 
heterogeneous lot of people, hear so many sides, to 
so many different questions — of so many different 
nations — that one's brain reels with ideas and 
opinions of war. 

But the question we are most interested in natu- 
rally is the feeling at home. 

We are very anxious to put our finger on the 
American pulse. 

The press we know — ^but the people ? 

As a Nation, the U. S. in her quick decision, has 
not been fair, which makes many an American on 
this side of the great Gulf hot with shame. 

As a country, we have read and re-read and 
listened to the story of the Allies, and it is not a 
pleasant thing to know that one's own people, so 
keen and sharp-witted by nature and repute, so on 
the outlook for flaws and faults and falseness in 
all transactions at home or abroad, sit now at the 
feet of the English Press, English accounts of the 
Cause, and the passing of Events, with eyes open 



134 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

and mouth agap to believe the tale that is told with 
the credence of a child. 

The representatives of the American Press have 
come decidedly prejudiced against the much to be 
dreaded, much to be feared, much hated race of 
Germans, and although they have not been too well 
treated, have gone back to the U. S. acknowledging 
they have been mis-informed and are fair and 
straight enough to admit it. 

It seems the great hue and cry is Militarism. 

Is the protection of a country by a country a 
just cause for Warfare? 

To ask such a question is to answer it. 

Then why not object to and attack primarily 
England and her Maritimism? 

The latter does our neutral country and all neu- 
tral countries much harm, interfering with the 
trade, the Commerce on the high Seas. And the 
English have intentionally driven the Americans 
from the ocean by paying subsidies which they 
knew Congress would not pay. 

They have driven us from the ocean by that 
policy as effectively as they ever drove an enemy 
from their guns. 

Now, the European Steamship Companies do 
9/ioth of the Ocean carrying for the United States, 
and the fact remains that there is almost no 
American shipping to carry our grain and cotton to 
Europe. And does it concern us greatly if our 
neighbor guards his house, his valuables, by wiring 
or a burglar alarm? — by Militarism — or by Naval 
Power? 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 135 

But Great Britain is the greatest exponent of 
this mihtarism, because she beHeves in the two 
Power standard, which means that her fleet must 
always be bigger than the two next biggest fleets on 
Earth. 

She wants to defend her water-ways from the 
head of the British Empire to all its different 
members. 

This is the perfectly plausible answer you get 
when you ask. 

Very well, Germany must defend the water-ways 
of her trade, carrying a commercial fleet of five 
billion dollars' worth and in addition, must defend 
her threatened frontiers, and insurance on her 
national fortune, in people, land, and money. 

This is militarism over which America has be- 
come a fanatic, until one might think the German 
nation, with the Kaiser in the lead, had ambition 
to sail over the blue, and install this dreaded 
militarism on our American shores, or flaunt it 
over the South American Republics, and that 
Europe must be delivered from this Imperial 
Militarism as from a scourge, to save its very 
existence. 

But we have had at times a peculiar spasmodic, 
hysterical gullibility. We are living in the present, 
almost in the same mental attitude as in the com- 
mencement of the great struggle of 1870-71. For 
at that time European reports -ridiculed Prussian 
effort, minimized all her endeavors, belittled her 
victories, and such was our "easy mark" attitude, 
that we believed and soon found ourselves con- 



136 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

fidently believing that all the French had to do was 
to march in on German territory, and so prevalent 
was this idea, and accepted so generally, that Frank 
Leslie's Illustrated, proclaimed in its pages "A 
'Berlin' — In three weeks. Napoleon will hold Court 
in Berlin." 

In face of the ease in which we absorbed mis- 
statements, we were hardly prepared in so short a 
space of time, six months, to learn of Kaiser 
William being crowned German Kaiser by the Ger- 
man Princess, in the courtly halls of Napoleon's 
Versailles, which ended the route leading from 
Saarbriick to Paris, characterized by many as the 
greatest military struggle the World has ever 
known, followed by the humiliating surrender of 
Napoleon, and the unheard of war indemnity of 
two Provinces, of five milliard francs. These 
were the trip hammer shocks that brought 
America's gullibility to its awakened senses and to 
the cognizance of the fact how easy we are to be 
worked by others. 

Does history repeat itself as we are told in 
ancient law? 

From others we hear that America's attitude is 
entirely a question of high finance. 

Germany has been a bloody stained battle-field 
through the centuries. 

She was a bulwark against the Huns, a victim 
of religious contest in 30 years of War, subject to 
Louis XIV and Napoleon's ambitions, and has suf- 
fered from not being a United country. 

Since January 18, 1871, Germany's day of Inde- 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 137 

pendence, Germany stands united, and has built up 
a commercial trade that has brought her great pros- 
perity and riches. 

Germany^s chemical — electrical — agricultural — 
forestry — industries, have aroused Great Britain's 
jealousy, and to crush Germany there is no method 
and means of destruction, that Great Britain will 
not resort to, and of course for the sake of "civili- 
zation" Germany and the German militarism must 
be destroyed. 

Annexation of the colonies, prevention of im- 
ports, withdrawing of patents, are useful means to 
this end. 

"A nation of shop-keepers" as Napoleon called 
England, cannot rise above the money standard. 
The following illustrates the facts: — 

The Englishman declares he will fight it out to 
his last penny. 

The German, we shall fight it out to the last 
drop of our blood. 

We have also been asked if the Americans have 
forgotten the Mohawk Valley massacres, when the 
English paid a great price for the scalps of women 
and children in 1777 and their own officers resigned 
their commissions. 

But soon we put out to Sea, and unless a floating 
mine sweeps us off the Ocean, we will steam past 
the Goddess of Liberty into New York Harbor and 
soon find out the real American attitude. 

But the American — the individual in Europe in 
this War time has been admirable. Men have given 
up their vocations, their callings, their professions, 



138 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

their homes, to give aid in varied and various ways 
to the dire distress, spread broad-cast on the face 
of the Earth. 

And the Woman shines as a jewel above price 
in the American Crown of Glory. 

She is supreme superior, wherever she is found 
in these war times. Irrespective of National pride 
or prejudice, she turns to work, promptly, patiently, 
with head and heart. 

It is the woman's hour of need, and she answers 
the call — no matter the country — to relieve the suf- 
fering, to help the wounded, to help, to give, in 
any way she can. 

She gives up entirely, her personal life, her per- 
sonal pleasures. 

In Lille, we know an American woman who 
remained through the siege, not considering her 
safety, at the time when near by Les Goumiers 
killed and beheaded the 26 German prisoners, and 
when the town was declared open, and German offi- 
cers marched in, were shot, and street battles of 
the most desperate kind took place. 

And the women in Munich, Vienna, Berlin, and 
the Hague, are accomplishing great results with 
their untiring, ceaseless energy, with the driving 
force of earnestness. 

All we can gather is that America is tired of the 
war — we are tired reading about it, talking about 
it, hearing about it and only hope the belligerent 
powers will soon get tired too. 

This war touches our pockets, ruins our trade, 
interferes with our pleasures and is becoming just 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 139 

as much of a bore to the American people, as was 
the daily item of war news from the Balkans. 

America wants Europe to hurry up and have 
peace. 

The Americans that have been in France are 
French sympathizers, those in London are for 
England and everyone coming out of Germany is 
pro-German. 

Thus it goes but the average American really 
argues that every nation may be right, every nation 
may be wrong, but it is of no vital interest who is 
right or who is wrong, who wins or who loses as 
long as America goes unscathed from the European 
fire. 

But we want back our Stock Exchange, our com- 
merce, our gay drawing rooms and pleasure trips, 
and only hope that Europe will soon get exhausted 
and stop. 

We must not be drawn in ; the Gods of war may 
beckon; but we shut our eyes and guard our peace 
and prosperity. 

But Americans, as individuals and as a nation, 
must be brought to look the great gravity of this 
European situation straight in the face and to 
realize that the cause and outcome of these wars 
are of vital, national interest to America's present 
and future. 

Americans could see, if they wanted to look, 
that this is not only a war between the nations of 
Europe; but a deciding war of future Government 
and future influence to the whole world and to our 



140 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

world of America as well, although we lie miles 
over the ocean. 

The ocean grows smaller every day; every year 
Europe is nearer than most of us seem to think. 

We have a golden western land lying on the 
broad Pacific to protect, a Land of Fruit and Flow- 
ers, of trade and traffic and abiding in this fair 
country are about two-hundred thousand of a 
nation that may, by the raising of a finger in the 
Empire of the Rising Sun become a hostile army 
and imperil our cherished peace. 

With the ocean road on the Pacific cleared, 
troops can come sailing in. 

Where is our army? where are our arsenals? 
where our stores of ammunition? 

We have a great and glorious country. 

Have we a great and glorious army to stand 
guard, or do we think we are "thrice blessed," in 
that we are to be for ever immune from wars on 
our shores or in our lands. 

What is the objection to compulsory military 
service ? 

It can do no harm— It can do much good. 

It is an excellent training in morals, in discipline, 
in health, it turns out a better class of men to fight 
their own battles should there be no countries' 
battles to fight for. 

It takes the young men away from fancies and 
frivolities at an age when fancies and frivolities 
do most harm; it turns them into fine soldier-men, 
with clean health and clear brain. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 141 

Then, why not miHtary service for America ? 

And we must realize that we can't for ever be 
impervious, immune to the very serious question of 
the supremacy of race and that the black wings of 
war can hover over our country as well as over 
another. 

October ^oth. Cannons roar on the banks of the 
Yser ; battles every day go on furiously. 

The Germans say frankly that Dunkirk is their 
objective point and Dunkirk they must have ! 

To secure the desired result they have flung into 
the scales every available means. Their troops 
have attacked the Allies with tremendous energy 
and bravery, fighting for more than a week without 
securing any marked advantage as a result of their 
sacrifices. 

It is estimated that the total of the fighting line 
which Germany has to maintain at present, in the 
East and West, amounts to well over six-hundred 
miles. 

The struggle in the theatre of war on the Yser, 
Ypres Canal and around Ypres, also south-west of 
Lille, is being continued with the same persistence. 

The Germans have suffered heavily within the 
last week from the British monitors firing from the 
sea, but claim the British warships have been driven 
off by the appearance of their heavy guns — ^but 
every report makes it clear, that both sides have 
suffered enormous losses. 

Will the Germans succeed in reaching Dunkirk 
— this is the question that both sides are anxiously 
asking at present. 



142 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The German forces consist of about seven army 
corps — the progress they have made is shght, but 
the battle is neither won nor lost. 

The British navy has just lost a submarine, and 
the German navy a cruiser, by the deadly explosives 
that lurk under the water, and float around, one 
knows not where. 

There is mine-laying in the North Sea and mine- 
laying as a form of warfare is causing the greatest 
anxiety to the vessels of neutral countries and to 
the fisherman and his fishing craft, a goodly num- 
ber of whom have already gone down in the 
deep. 

London announces that the entire North Sea 
must be considered military territory. 

If only the half of what has been told is true, of 
the horrors and terrors of this war of these days, 
one is dumb with anguish for all the suffering; 
one report speaks of bridges of dead over the Yser, 
seven times have the Germans tried to cross in this 
way and that the Yser runs red with blood. 

Shells come flying from the sea, from Ostend 
and Nieuport, bursting in the trenches, destroying 
bridges and causing terrible carnage along the 
whole line. 

The Belgian King is now with his army, and 
issues the following proclamation: — 

"Soldiers, our cities have been burned, our 
houses destroyed, and mourning has come over our 
dear Fatherland ; but worse catastrophies will over- 
come our people if you do not deliver it from the 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 143 

invader. It is an imperative duty! You can 
deliver your country with the aid of our brave 
Allies." 

Admiral Lord Fisher has been appointed as 
First Lord of the Admiralty, as successor to Prince 
Louis of Battenburg, who has fallen the first vic- 
tim of the germanophobe feeling of the populace. 
His forty years devoted service in the British Navy 
count for naught. 

The whole British nation is rising up in ani- 
mosity against Germans, even against those living 
for many years in England, and naturalized. 

Why not rise up against their purely German 
royal family, in whose veins run German blood? 

The grandfather of King George was a Prince 
of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Queen Mary as a born 
Princess of Teck, is a purely German Princess, the 
Tecks being a side branch of the House of Wiirt- 
tenburg. 

Therefore, the King and Queen of England 
are Germans — even through Queen Victoria of the 
House of Hanover. 

Such is the pedigree of the English royal family. 

The nomination of Lord Fisher as First Sea- 
Lord puts into this important position the man 
who more than any other is the maker of the 
British Navy, and who is to the navy what Kitch- 
ener is to the army. 

He is quoted as having said: — "I hope to live to 
see the whole German navy at the bottom of the 
sea. 



144 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

The Turkish Fleet has been acting against Rus- 
sian ports. 

The possibiHty of Turkish participation in this 
great war has never been overlooked, and many 
fresh developments may follow in the wake of these 
hostile actions and will surely stir up the whole 
Balkan States. 

It is believed that Turkey has masses of troops 
on the Russian frontiers, and strong forces facing 
Egypt. 

A Cabinet Council in Lisbon has expressed its 
satisfaction at the preparations for war. 

The Portuguese contingent will be sent to 
France at the beginning of December; Portuguese 
officers have already gone to London to get into 
direct communication with the English General 
Staff. 

England's wish that Portugal should join the 
war will be made known at a meeting of both 
chambers of parliament. 

By a secret treaty three-hundred thousand men 
will be put in the field at Great Britain's request. 

How can one country hold out against so many? 

Germany's bravery and courage and belief in 
herself and her victory, although bleeding at every 
pore, is prodigious. 

How very passing strange it is to realize that in 
a short distance, these indescribable scenes of 
bloodshed go on and we are here in this sweet toy- 
land of happy people, in this noiseless, entrancing 
landscape, fashioned by the hand of man, and the 
sweat of his brow — "God made the sea, we made 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 145 

the shore'* — undisturbed by any other sound than 
the tinkHng of the cow-bells and the musical chimes 
of town and village belfry, ringing out gently — 
quaint old tunes that were familiar centuries 
ago! 

November 6th. Every day it is a twice-told 
tale. 

Strong Russian re-inforcements have caused the 
Germans to withdraw from the Vistula. 

The morasses and lack of railways rendered it 
desirable for General von Hindenburg to take up a 
position further back. 

The great struggle on the Yser has died down 
leaving both sides in possession of their main posi- 
tion. The inundations of the Yser have been a 
powerful help to the Belgians, who fought furi- 
ously during the bayonet attacks, shouting, "Lou- 
vain" and ''Dendermonde." 

In normal times the water from the river also 
inundates the low-lying Polder country; but now 
the sluices are opened. 

So, in Flanders, as in Northern France, the ten- 
sion continues almost unabated. 

It would seem that the German Commander has 
given up the plan to break through the line of the 
Allies between the sea and Dixmude and has com- 
menced a new assault further to the south-east. 

Strong re-inforcements are brought to both 
sides, and it is possible another furious battle will 
develop. 

Lieutenant-General von Falkenhayen, the Prus- 
sian Minister of War, takes the place of Field- 



146 WAR DIARY OK AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

Marshall General von Moltke who is on the sick 
list. 

The last loop-hole to peace in the Far East has 
been closed. 

Therefore, out of the European crash and 
thunder, through the smoke and din of French, 
Galician, Bosnian battle-fields, a gigantic figure 
rises over the city of Constant ine — "a figure 
clothed in Khaki, carrying a Mauser rifle, but above 
its fez-capped forehead gleams the crescent moon 
of Othman.'' 

And who knows what strength of plan and pur- 
pose, what strength and strategy of armed men 
lies behind the walls of Imperial Stamboul? 

English warships bombard the forts at the en- 
trance to the Dardenelles without producing any 
effect. 

England is in fear of the Turkish invasion of 
Egypt, and a terrible outbreak of anti-English feel- 
ing amongst the native population is inevitable. 

Several reports come of a Bedouin raid from 
Palestine. 

The Persian Ambassador at St. Petersburg has 
handed to the Russian Government a demand for 
the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops 
from Persian territory, this is Persia's ultimatum. 

What will Bulgaria and Roumania do? 

All eyes are turned to the two Balkan powers 
whose decision may add new complications to an 
already complicated situation. 

To the great chain of war is added a new link 
day by day. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 147 

And to the Colony at The Hague, a new race, a 
new color, for the former Turkish Ambassador in 
London, Tewfik Pasha, and his staff have arrived. 

The Hotel des Indes gives hospice to the 
Swedish, Danish, German diplomats, the Governor 
of Antwerp, Belgians, Russians, and Americans on 
special missions of relief and so forth. 

If it was not for the tragedy of it, it would be a 
comedy. 

Kiatschau has surrendered to the Japanese and 
thus the German possession on which so much has 
been lavished is lost to the Kaiser. 

There was no chance from the beginning for this 
brave colony on the edge of the China Sea. Men 
never fought and held out so heroically to the end 
against certain defeat. The Germans had no 
chance numerically. Six-thousand against sixty- 
two thousand, no chance against Japanese warships 
and Japanese bombardment, to save this much 
treasured possession. 

There are many who believe that the fall of Kiat- 
schow will prove the first link in a chain of com- 
plications involving Chinese and American interests 
in China. 

China, however, is still powerless and America 
follows a policy of acquiescence and suffers the 
Japanese to nestle in the South Pacific Islands al- 
though they are a direct danger for the Philippines 
and the Samoa Islands and raises no protest to the 
capture of Kiatschou. 

While the desperate struggle has been and is 
going on in Flanders, the tenacious forces in 



148 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

France proceed without a pause, yet without caus- 
ing any marked weakening on either side. 

The first sea-fight in the present war has taken 
place near the island of Santa Maria, off the 
Chilian coast. 

The German Admiral von Spee, has informed 
the Chilian authorities that the fighting lasted for 
about an hour, and ceased at nightfall. 

At Valparaiso, it is thought that the German 
squadron received wireless information regularly, 
which does not seem to have been the case with the 
British ships, and that the *'Good Hope" had been 
last seen, making for the coast at full speed and 
enveloped in flames. 

Evidently the German cruisers were lying in wait 
for the British ships when the latter were coaling 
at Caronel, attacking them as soon as they left 
port and before they had time to arrange them- 
selves in battle order. 

A number of German cruisers appeared on No- 
vember 3rd near Yarmouth and opened bombard- 
ment. 

England issues a formal declaration of war on 
Turkey and has annexed Cyprus — an island which 
has been occupied by her troops since 1874. 

Cyprus, with its population of two-hundred and 
fifty-thousand has been the scene of many stirring 
events in history from the time of the Phoenicians 
and Greeks. 

Nothing can do away with the great fact that 
German guns have thundered against the coast of 
Britain. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 149 

It is a terrible awakening for the British nation, 
instead of British warships bombarding the Ger- 
man harbors, the German projectiles are falHng on 
British soil, German submarines in the Channel, 
German warships on the East Coast of Britain, 
German mines on the North Coast of Ireland, so 
England is forced on her own coast to defend her- 
self against Germany. 

Battles are waged on sea and on land. 

November 12th. Already three months of con- 
fusion and carnage have passed and in the wake 
of war comes many horrors, much suffering. 

Famine threatens Belgium and fifty large firms 
have, through the American Minister at The 
Hague, put in a claim of two-hundred and fifty- 
million francs as compensation from England for 
the destruction of their goods by English troops, 
this destruction not having taken place during the 
defence of Antwerp, but after the evacuation of 
the city by the retreating English. 

America has been splendid in her help and 
through an arrangement with Holland, supplies are 
sent direct, and the secretaries of the American 
Legation go to distribute relief to Antwerp, Brus- 
sels and other Belgian towns. 

The Dutch have shown human nature in its best 
and most loveable light and have no small problem 
to deal with. 

They are taxed to their utmost in caring for the 
homeless and cheering the helpless. 

The winter is coming on, and they have their 



150 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

own poor — their home charities, which must not 
be neglected for the refugee. 

The mobiHzation of Holland costs three-hundred 
and twenty-thousand dollars per day. 

It would be idle to deny that from an economic 
stand-point, Holland has suffered severely from the 
great struggle now raging on every side and the 
question confronts the country as to how best to 
raise the huge sum of money needed by the Gov- 
ernment to meet these special circumstances. 

The decision rests between a loan and a forced 
levy on the high classes of tax-payers. 

We hear Ysaye, who has given us such dreams, 
such mystical music, was three days in a fishing 
boat, before reaching the English coast, lost all of 
his valuable manuscript and not a day goes by 
but one does not hear some sad, some pitiful 
story. 

Friends and families are hopelessly separated. 

In the daily paper, half French, half English, 
there is a column of advertisements for lost 
refugees, one seeks a son, another a wife, another 
a father, and several names will be grouped to- 
gether looking for a lost comrade who was last 
in Malines, or last heard from in Antwerp and 
so on. 

There is many a heart-rendering sight, many a 
heard-rendering story and it is like looking for a 
needle in a hay-stack to start the search for the 
lost ones of these poor bereft creatures, driven 
hither and thither, interned in Germany, or trans- 
ported to England. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 151 

Can one not, on the spot, realize, the utter de- 
spair of this state of things, and money, food and 
clothing are needed in abundance to help these 
innocent victims. 

The middle-class of Belgium has been taxed to 
the utmost and given its last penny; the rich 
mostly remain abroad. 

A series of sad sights indeed ! 

There is also a very difficult question to deal 
with regarding the prisoners of war of England 
and Germany. 

The intense bitter feeling grows apace between 
the two countries and one cannot help but feel the 
flame is fanned by England's yellow press stirring 
up further strife. 

Berlin issues an official statement "the treat- 
ment of non-combatant Germans between the ages 
of 17 and 55 years interned in Great Britain has 
caused the German Government to inform the 
British Government that British subjects in Ger- 
many will be similarly treated if the German sub- 
jects have not been released on the 15th inst., at 
latest." 

As yet no answer. 

This is a very regrettable state of affairs, 
whereby many innocent people will suffer in many 
ways. 

America again tries to come to the rescue and 
sends her tried men and true to use all their 
influence to bring about an understanding and to 
solve this perplexed and very sorry question. 

Also the closing of the North Sea by England 



152 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

has raised a storm of protest in all countries con- 
cerned. Holland as well as Sweden, Denmark and 
Norway. 

The shipping of these states is more or less 
stranded in the interest of England. 

The pretence that England has to act as she 
does in consequence of Germany's breach of inter- 
national rules is taken at its value ; for it is known 
the German Navy has restricted itself laying mines 
only within the three-mile zone of the English 
coast and this high-handed action of England has 
caused the three Scandinavian countries to lodge a 
joint protest in London. 

The German Government officially protests 
against the false accusations made by Britain that 
German hospital and merchant ships had been 
guilty of the placing of mines. 

On the other hand, in the South of the North 
Sea and the channel, a number of mines of Great 
Britain and France are drifting about which have 
not lost their power. 

The way along the Downs and the East Coast 
of England involves serious danger while the Nor- 
thern Sea is free of mines. 

Lord Loreburn, who, for a number of years 
was Lord Chancellor of England, declared in a 
book — "On private property in a Naval War" pub- 
lished last year, that a proposal to close the entire 
North Sea from Dover and Calais to the Shetland 
Isle and Bergen, would be a distinct violation of 
the neutrality of such lands, as Holland, Denmark, 
Sweden and Norway. 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 153 

But English ideas and ideals of former days and 
the present differ widely. 

In 1909, Sir Edward Grey publicly described the 
Belgian rule in the Congo State as "indistinguish- 
able from slavery" — on October 22nd of the same 
year, he stated in Sheffield, that the Congo natives 
were forced through most inhuman methods to 
hardest manual labor without the least compen- 
sation. 

It was then imperatively urged that in all its 
African possessions Belgium should adopt the 
humane policies of England and of Germany. 

Both of the latter Governments had expended 
considerable sums on the up-building of their 
colonies, whereas the Belgians were simply preying 
upon and despoiling their Congo Colony. 

Thus, the growth of Antwerp was largely due 
to the wealth created through the blood and the 
suffering of the Congo natives. 

In July 191 1, in a "Nineteenth Century" article 
entitled — "La Force Noire," — Max Montesole 
criticised the enrolling of African troops in the 
French army. 

He wrote: — "I protest against their being trans- 
ported from their country like chained tigers, to be 
unloosed against Europeans." 

This seems all very strange reading in view of 
present events and past ideals. 

News comes that the "Emden," that swift and 
daring little cruiser, which had captured the public 
imagination by its ceaseless assaults on British 



154 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

commerce, has been surprised and destroyed in the 
Indian Ocean, off the Keehng Islands. 

Now Britain, through her AlHed Fleets gains the 
semblance of supremacy over the ocean. 

Commander von Miiller is saved, and with him 
Prince Franz Joseph von Hohenzollern, is taken 
prisoner. 

The British papers pay tribute to this brave, 
chivalrous enemy, who has fulfilled his duties so 
loyally, so ably, and recognized that although he 
inflicted losses amounting to many millions of 
pounds sterling, he always acted with the most 
perfect courtesy, without causing needless loss of 
life, or unnecessary damage, always minutely ob- 
serving the laws of war, and his name will go 
down gloriously in history. 

Warfare! Modes and methods of war are in 
the throes of changing, fortifications are hence- 
forth of but small avail, sea fare changes also. 

It will be no longer the ambition of every coun- 
try to float so many proud Dreadnoughts a year, 
but to construct as many submarines as the Ex- 
chequer permits, and the people vote. 

It is this destructive, unseen enemy that is the 
strength and backbone of Germany's navy. 

The submarine, so far, has done much damage 
to the enemy's fleet; it is to the submarines that 
we must look for the protection of our lands, not 
so much to the powerful awe-inspiring Dread- 
naught. 

To Italy are flying Germans and Austrians who 
have to leave Egypt and a brother of the Khedive, 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 155 

Prince Mohamed Ali, and the Egyptian princes, 
Hussem and Assis Hassan all expelled by the 
British. 

Every effort has been made by France and Eng- 
land to bribe the Italian Government, by virtual 
promises of Trieste and the Trientmer region, to 
declare war against its former Allies. 

The third and last element of this pacific pro- 
gram was therefore the attempted seduction of 
Italy from the Triple Alliance by raising the Irre- 
dentist hopes of winning from Austria this Trent 
district in South Tyrol which Italy so covets. 

Telegrams state the French troops under the 
command of General Aymerich have seized the 
main part of the German Congo, which in 191 1, 
was ceded to Germany, in exchange for relinquish- 
ing her claim in Morocco. 

The whole Ubangi district is said to be again in 
the possession of the French. 

The Germans re-take Dixmude, one of the 
storm centres of the furious struggles which have 
marked the German efforts to cross the frontier 
into France and advanced towards Dunkirk and 
Calais. But the sudden appearance of the Rus- 
sians on the German frontier show that the slow- 
moving masses of the Czar are now in onward 
movement. 

A boulversement of the whole European world. 
East and West, a European cyclone, a European 
earthquake — what you w^ill! And if calm and 
peace ever come, many peoples and many nations 
will have to *'find themselves!" 



156 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

November lyth. The week-end brings but little 
change in Flanders, where battles on dykes and 
dunes are impeded by the mists and fogs which add 
more terrors to the battlefields and artillery duels 
boom steadily. 

From Flushing the heavy boom of guns can be 
heard from the Belgian coast. 

It is an open question if the changed conditions 
of the weather will materially alter the line and 
force of decision, for the land of the Yser and the 
Lys is inundated and rain, snow and icy-winds 
reign supreme. 

The fear of sharp frost is troubling the armies 
in Belgium and France; but when the biting cold 
and approaching winter comes in Poland and East 
Prussia will be even a more serious question. 

Napoleon's campaign is yet fresh in the memory 
when no enemy but an icy frost, accomplished his 
defeat in the Beresina. 

In 1 813, it was proved, that while the Russian 
soldier could bear up against the cold, the Western 
soldier gave out. 

It remains to be seen if the hardy-bred, enduring 
Teuton, can conquer wind and weather as well as 
foes. 

Lord Roberts, the famous British Field Marshal, 
is dead, from illness contracted on a visit to Indian 
troops in France. 

In his eighty-two years he has seen much ser- 
vice from the moment when he distinguished him- 
self at the Siege of Delhi, during the mutiny, to 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 157 

his becoming Commander-in-Chief of the British 
Army. 

During this time he has served three sovereigns 
in turn, who have showered on him honors and 
gold, adoration and love. 

He never failed; his soldiers were faithful, his 
Sepoys and Sikhs rushed into the fire for him, and 
England lost a hero, an adviser, and the entire 
German press states that "even in war, there are 
moments, when a warrior salutes the enemy with 
his sword, and the death of Lord Roberts brings 
one such moment." 

Holland, this Pays Bas, still struggles bravely 
with her difficulties. 

The amount of the war loan that is proposed 
is two-hundred and seventy-five million florins, 
which will only be sufficient if the war and its 
direct consequences do not last longer than an- 
other six months, that is, than April 191 5. The 
Council of State is said to have approved the 
bill. 

The registration bureau is working well, at least 
three-hundred of the lost are found and located. 

Holland, not in war, is busy with war, effects of 
war! 

In Constantinople it is declared that never before 
has the Khali fate, in the same form as at present 
unfolded the banner of the Holy War, even the 
holy wars carried on by Islam, at the time of the 
crusades could not be compared with this event. 

When the word is given, every Mohammedan 
knows his duty. Hundreds of thousands of pil- 



158 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

grims coming to Medina and Mecca receive the 
order. 

The ex-Khedive, Abbas Helin, will be obliged 
this year to extend his stay on the Bosphorus. 

The Khedive is now preparing to accompany the 
Turkish army in its campaign against the British 
in Egypt and believes in Allah's help to crown his 
efforts with success. 

This war is titanic. 

It grows more fearful, more frightful every 
day. 

Can there be no dove of peace to let loose? 

Have the neutral powers no power to combine 
for the forcing of an armistice, or arrangements 
for peace, to stay the riotous murder of all the 
peoples of the earth? 

Nation after nation is being drawn into a 
struggle whose continuance can serve no ideal end 
whilst it is slaying or destroying the noblest youth- 
ful powers of Europe, and leaving only the names 
of some famous towns on the map. The sufferings 
of hundreds of thousand are becoming unbearable. 

Human woe is rising to heaven, witnessing 
against religion and civilization. 

Is not the moment come to attempt to save what 
there is yet to save? Two countries are indicated 
for this task, the kingdom of the Netherlands and 
the Republic of the United States of North 
America. 

The Queen Wilhelmina is honored and popular 
in our country over the seas, and the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs is generally known and esteemed 



WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 159 

in our Republic. Cannot both Governments now 
under these favorable conditions and circumstances 
together prepare for the task of offering their 
Mediation ? 

The "Algemein Handelsblad" urges this through 
its press, stating a like opportunity may not easily 
occur as the present, which refers to the departure 
of the American Minister at the Hague for a 
vacation at Washington, believing his presence 
there a fortunate occasion to bring Holland and 
America together in a united plan, an armistice 
plan, a peace plan! 

That a powerful word could be spoken, is quite 
true, if one has the right spokesman, but the 
"bringer" together of these two powers, the one 
who is to let loose the dove of peace, must be one 
whose official neutrality is unquestioned, sans 
reproache, no matter what may be his private con- 
victions and opinions, which is not the case with 
the American Minister at the Hague, who is most 
professedly anti-German and has this reputation, 
not only in the Hague but all over Europe. 

A Minister Plenipotentiary of a neutral coun- 
try to a neutral country must retain absolute neu- 
trality, in speech and action if there is to be any 
chance for World Understanding, for World Peace. 

It would prove a great honor to Holland if it 
was Holland's Queen who had the high courage to 
speak the first word, that will show the people of 
Europe the way to a lasting peace. 

The possibility of a solution must be con- 
sidered. 



160 WAR DIARY OF AN AMERICAN WOMAN 

It is unbearable to look on at the massacre of the 
flower of Europe's manhood the hope for the 
Future. 

If only the Christmas bells could gladly, 
gloriously ring out from world end to world 
end: 

"Peace on Earth — Good Will towards Man.'* 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper proa 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: J(JN 2001 

PreservationTechnologi 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVAl 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 






iiiiii 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




007 693 318 2 






